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UNO Athletic Hall of Fame

A joint venture of the UNO Alumni Association and Omaha Athletics, the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame began in 1975 to recognize former athletes, coaches, administrators and others who have made lasting contributions to Maverick Athletics.

SUBMIT A UNO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME NOMINATION

UNO Athletic Hall of Fame 2024 Inductees

Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA, Dan Ellis, Viv Ewing, Mike Denney, Lindsey Slocum Robertson, Mitch Albers, Zach Miller, Adrian Dowell

Mitch Albers

Mitch Albers was a four-year letterwinner for UNO, lettering from 2007-09 and 2010-12. He finished his career as the No. 2 scorer in program history with 1,790 points, just 26 shy of all-time leader.  

As a senior, Albers averaged 18.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and one steal per game. Albers ranked 36th among Division I scorers that season and was named a first-team All-Independent selection by College Sports Madness. He also was third-team All-MIAA. His career totals place him third all-time for field goals made (633) and fourth in 3-pointers (187). At the conclusion of his career, he also ranked 19th all time for assists (230). He was named honorable mention All-MIAA recognition in 2008-09. In the 2010-11 season, Albers averaged 17.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2 assists per game.

Mike Denney

Mike Denney is the most accomplished coach in the history of UNO Athletics. He led the program from 1979 until it was discontinued in 2011 when UNO transitioned to Division I. At UNO, he compiled a record of 314-111-5 with seven national championships. Twice his teams won three consecutive national titles (2004-06; 2009-11). Denney coached 181 NCAA Division II All-Americans, 33 NCAA Division II National Champions and four NCAA Division I All-Americans.  
 
Denney received the UNO Chancellor’s Medal in 2000 in honor of significant contributions to the university. Denney’s additional honors include InterMat NCAA Wrestling Coach of the Year (2011); NCAA Division II Wrestling Coach of the Year (1981,1991, 2009); and Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year (2006). This is Denney’s eighth hall of fame induction.

Dan Ellis

Dan Ellis played three seasons for the Mavericks from 2000 to 2003. As a sophomore, he became the first Maverick goaltender to reach 1,000 saves in a season (1,098), still a UNO record and first Maverick goaltender to be named to the CCHA All-Rookie Team. The following season, he was named CCHA Defensive Player of the Week for three consecutive weeks, the first time that happened in league history. In his final year, he set the single-game record for saves with 53 against Ohio State. He ranks first on the UNO career list in games (118) and minutes (6,900) played and is second all-time for career saves (3,125), save percentage (.910), goals-against average (2.69), wins (53) and shutouts (7). Ellis was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars. On Feb. 18, 2004, he became the first former Maverick to play in an NHL game. He finished with a career record of 87-79, a 2.79 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.

Zach Miller

Zach Miller was an all-time leader in points (306) and touchdowns (51) at UNO. He also finished No. 2 in career total offense (7,218 yards) and rushing (3,122 yards). He set single-season standards in touchdowns (19) and points (114) and had the fourth-best season for total offense (2,569 yards). He set the record for completion percentage in a single game (.895) and had the fifth-most rushing yards in a single game (239). In 2006, Miller was named all-North Central Conference and NCC Offensive MVP. He received the Brad Beckman award for offensive excellence in 2006 and 2007. During his four years, the Mavericks had a combined record of 33-11 with three NCC championships and four NCAA playoff appearances. Jacksonville drafted Miller in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played three seasons for the Jaguars followed by a brief stint with Tampa Bay before joining the Chicago Bears in 2014. He finished his NFL career with 146 receptions for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Lindsey Slocum Robertson

Lindsey Slocum Robertson was a four-year letter winner for the UNO softball team and a two-time Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-American. She left her mark in the Maverick record book as both an outfielder and a pitcher. She redshirted at UNO in 2007, then was a regular fixture in the UNO lineup the next four seasons, starting 221 of 225 career games. Slocum Robertson ranks second all-time with 54 career doubles, fourth all-time in career RBI with 153 and total bases (363) and is tied for ninth all-time with 27 career home runs. She finished with a career batting average of .318 in 226 career games. As a pitcher, Slocum Robertson struck out 480 batters, fifth most on the UNO career list. She finished with a 2.03 ERA while putting together a career record of 52-12 with four saves in 444.2 innings. She ranks 10th all-time in wins. She averaged 7.56 strikeouts per game during her career which is first all-time. Slocum Robertson helped the Mavericks make the NCAA Division II playoffs all four years.

UNO Athletic Hall of Fame

1975: Marlin Briscoe, Bill Englehardt, Leo Pearey, Roger Sayers

1976: Don Pflasterer, Virgil Yelkin, L. Joe Arenas

1977: Bob Matthews, Howard Sorensen, Mel Washington

1978: Lloyd Cardwell, William H. Thompson

1979: C.L. “Sed” Hartman, George Parish, Rudy Rotella

1980: Harold Johnk, Fred “Tippy” Tyler

1981: Ben Huff, Stan Schaetzle

1982: Don Benning, Al Caniglia

1983: Gerald Allen, Connie Claussen, Bob Mackie

1985: Marlene McCauley, Jack Vaccaro, Don Claussen

1986: Jack Petersen, Niece Jochims

1987: Connie Wichman, Carl Meyers

1988: Paul Blazevich, Dennis Forrest, Curlee Alexander, Colette Shelton Pawol

1989: Barb Hart Baumert, Lloyd Patterson, Micky Gehringer, Larry Johnson

1990: Robert “Bugs” Redden, Mark Rigatuso, Dean Thompson Jr.

1991: Elaine L. Johnson Hinton, Jim Gregory, Bill Haas

1992: Allie Nuzum Majerus, Rod Kush, Barry Miller

1993: Don Leahy, Kathy Knudsen, Ryan Kaufman

1994: Cindy Rudloff-Lebeda, Dan Klepper, Randy Naran

1995: Lori Schutte Schaal, Dominick Polifrone, Becky Wilson Kapperman, Mark Manning, Laura J. Anderson-Gibbons

1996: Harlan Aden, R.J. Nebe

1997: Ruth Evans McClinton, Kathy Gass-Eckley, Phil Wise

1998: Frank Hahn, Mary Henke Anderson, Keith Coleman

1999: Sandy Skradski, Janice Moreau Howell

2000: Joe Wypiszenski, Brenda Baumann Pulling, Greg Wilcox

2001: Jimmy Jones, Kim Osler Brown

2002: Lou Miloni, Bob Gates, Denise Petersen

2003: Brad Hildebrandt, Cherri Mankenberg, Amy Steffel

2004: Braumon Creighton, Toni Novak Geary, Ed Thompson

2005: Carri Butler Hutcherson, Tanya Cate, Pat Kelley III

2006: Chris Bober, Sheila Brown Geil, Greg Geary

2007: Michelle Manthei Kankousky, Mar Tay Jenkins, Mary Yori

2008: Michala Lehotak Cimino, Larry Krehbiel, Charlie McWhorter

2010: David Brisson, LaRon Henderson, Stephanie Kirby

2012: Nikki (Mastny) Bails, Steve Costanzo, Beth McGill, Ali Petersen, Adam Wright, Sandy Buda

2014: Tracy (Ankeny) Blair, Stephanie (Kruse) Kros, Marv Nevins, Les Sigman

2015: J.D. Naig, Pinar Saka, Jenni Upenieks

2016: Fred Abboud, Justin Kammrad, Scott Parse

2017: Cody Garcia, Anja Puc, Tanis Hastmann Walch

2018: Bryan Marshall, Evan Porter, Amy Price

2022: Foluso (Makinde) Adepitan, Brian Masek, Krista (Unger) Wood

2023: Bruce Benedict, Sandy Derby-Higdon, Danny B. Fulton, Janice Theresa Kruger, Greg Zanon

2024: Mitch Albers, Mike Denney, Dan Ellis, Zach Miller, Lindsey Slocum Robertson