Bill Moos announced Friday his plans to retire from his position as Nebraska’s athletic director on June 30, 2021. That means the Huskers will begin a search for his replacement, and UNL chancellor Ronnie Green said that national search would being “very soon.”
Who might Nebraska consider to replace Moos? Erin Sorensen and Brandon Vogel run down a few names that may find themselves in consideration.
Jamie Pollard (Iowa State athletic director)
Pollard is likely high on the list for most Nebraska fans, but would he come to Nebraska? He’s been Iowa State’s athletic director for 16 years and seems to be a in a good spot with football and head coach Matt Campbell.
Prior to Iowa State, Pollard spent time in administration at Wisconsin, Maryland and Saint Louis University.
The Cyclones recently extended Pollard’s contract through 2026. He is the nation’s fourth-longest serving Football Bowl Subdivision athletic director, behind only Oklahoma’s Joe Castiglione, Kentucky’s Mitch Barnhart and Ohio State’s Gene Smith. – E.S.
Trev Alberts (Nebraska Omaha athletic director)
Alberts, who is the director of athletics at the University of Nebraska Omaha, is a name Husker fans are certainly familiar with. He played for Nebraska from 1990-93 and was awarded the Dick Butkus Award and Jack Lambert Trophy as the top college linebacker his senior year.
Alberts has been Omaha’s athletic director since 2009. He is well-known by many for his decision to eliminate the Mavericks’ football and wrestling programs in an effort to bring Omaha to Division I. With that said, he has accomplished a lot at UNO since 2009, most recently completing the new complex that houses the Mavericks’ baseball and softball fields. – E.S.
Ed Stewart (Big 12 Conference executive associate commissioner for football)
Stewart, who has been with the Big 12 Conference since 2006, is another familiar name for Nebraska fans. He was a captain of the Huskers’ 1994 national championship football team.
As a member of the Big 12’s senior management team, Stewart has overseen the Big 12’s football championship game and officiating program, negotiated over $150 million in bowl game contracts and much more.
Stewart has more than 20 years of administrative experience, beginning his career at Michigan State University. – E.S.
Rob Mullens (Oregon athletic director, CFP selection committee chair)
Mullens would fall squarely in the aim-high category, but he’s on the list because he was rumored to be high on Nebraska’s list in 2017, when Moos was hired. High enough, for whatever it’s worth, that I started preparing background info on him in case he was the choice.
The background info is pretty good. Mullens took over at Oregon in 2010, three years after Moos’ departure. He helped the Ducks transition from the Chip Kelly era, hiring Mark Helfrich. That worked a for a bit, but when things started to slip Mullens also fired Helfrich and hired Willie Taggart, who would leave a year later for his “dream job,” Florida State. That didn’t end well for Taggart, but it has so far for Oregon, which is trending up under Coach Mario Cristobal.
That’s a lot of drama in a short span of time, but that could come in handy as Nebraska’s situation is somewhat unique right now. Would Mullens be interested? That could be a longshot given that Oregon has a pretty good thing going, but Mullens was there for most of Frost’s tenure in Eugene. Maybe that connection would come into play. – B.V.
Matt Davison (Nebraska deputy athletic director for football)
Davison may not have the experience as an athletic director, but he has taken on a number of important roles during his time as Nebraska’s deputy athletic director football. Most notably, Davison helped lead the fundraising charge for the Huskers’ new $155 million football training facility.
While heading into his fourth year in his current role at Nebraska, Davison also has been involved with the university as a color commentator for the Husker Sports Network’s football and men’s basketball radio broadcasts. He is also an analyst for the network’s game day football broadcasts. – E.S.
Garrett Klassy (Nebraska senior deputy athletic director for external operations)
Green announced that Klassy will serve as Nebraska’s interim athletic director while the university conducts its search for a permanent hire.
“Garrett has great respect within the department and our university,” Green said. “And I know will provide steady leadership during this period.”
Klassy arrived at Nebraska in July 2019 from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he served as athletic director. Prior to his time at UIC, he spent four years as senior associate athletic director for external relations at George Washington University. – E.S.
John Cook (Nebraska volleyball coach)
Here’s a name that’s always popular with fans and Cook’s track record as a leader is tough to top. That said, the uncertainty around football at the moment makes this feel like a remote possibility. Cook’s legacy as one of the best coaches at Nebraska, regardless of sport, is cemented at this point and very few things could change that. Having to decide what to do next with the football program is probably one of those things. That has to be a significant factor for any potential candidate. – B.V.
