Healing Through History: UNO Wrestling Program Reunites
Omaha Athletics celebrates Maverick Wrestling program legacy and honors the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship wrestling team
by John Fey
Mike Denney freely admits there was deep hurt and, yes, anger that festered inside for 12 years following the shocking news that his highly successful UNO wrestling program was being dismantled. The hundreds of Maverick athletes who he not only coached but mentored shared his pain. But the healing process took an important first step on Oct. 14 when Denney, his top assistant Ron Higdon and more than 200 wrestlers representing 62 UNO seasons (32 under Denney) gathered for a reunion at Sapp Fieldhouse.
Joining the wrestling alumni were family members, friends and former athletic department staff members for more than three hours of swapping stories, memories and hugs. Smiling throughout was Denney, the last of just six UNO wrestling coaches.
“The time we had here was a blast,” Denney says. “These last 12 years, I haven’t been able to drive by [campus]. The first time I came on campus – I had Ronnie Higdon come with me – we actually broke down. I’m kind of doing that now.”
Younger UNO alumni may not be aware that the school’s super-successful wrestling program was eliminated on March 12, 2011. For reclassification from Division II to Division I and to pave the way for the Mavericks to join The Summit League beginning in July of that same year, UNO discontinued the football and wrestling programs to cut costs and to align with the sports sponsored by The Summit League. They also needed to have equal sports and scholarships for males and females to abide by Title IX and receive federal funding.
The news broke shortly after Denney’s team captured its seventh and final Division II national title the same day.
More than 12 years later, the plan to reunite Maverick wrestlers came to fruition. And to cap off the day, Denney’s 2011 national champions were saluted between periods of UNO’s hockey game against Niagara.
Higdon, who wrestled for Denney and then served 19 years as his top assistant, was beaming with pride as he surveyed the crowd inside Sapp Fieldhouse. He credited current Athletic Director Adrian Dowell and former A.D. Bob Danenhauer with hatching the idea of a wrestling reunion.
“They reached out to us, but it took some convincing,” Higdon says. “It took five or six meetings. The trust was gone.”
Denney admits to some hesitation “at first.”
“I wanted to know that it was sincere,” he says. “Adrian was sincere, and the chancellor (Joanne Li) seems to be sincere. They’ve opened their arms to us.”
With the success of UNO wrestling came trophies (25 from NCAA appearances alone) and plaques that have been kept out of sight since the sport was disbanded. Denney rented a storage unit for all the memorabilia, and he and his wife Bonnie pulled much of it out for display that Saturday.
Danenhauer, who played football and wrestled at UNO (but not for Denney), was the athletic director for 11 years and witnessed the dynasty that was Maverick wrestling.
“I knew coach even before then when he was the head coach at (Omaha) Bryan High while I was wrestling for Westside,” Danenhauer recalls. “Coach Denney has always been a stand-up guy and coached from his heart. He did a great job of recruiting, and he always did a great job of promoting wrestling here. Sometimes wrestling got the short end of the deal.”
Before he took his turn at the podium for the program – which included the introduction of the wrestling alumni – Dowell appeared happy, and relieved, at the end result.
“This is really cool to see,” he said. “It’s great to see so many people come back. I hope this is just a start.”
The introduction of wrestlers included those from all eras, although the majority represented those under Denney’s tutelage. That included three-time all-American Mark Manning (1983-85), who was about to embark on his 23rd season as Nebraska’s head wrestling coach.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s really past due,” Manning said when asked about the turnout that day “It’s about family, and it’s about people, coach Denney and his staff. This is needed to bring us together and share good times and reconnect with each other.”
Manning says he learned a lot about coaching from Denney – and not just wrestling.
“He instilled in me a lot of great coaching principles and how to treat people and how to coach different personalities,” he says. “You’re not always going to treat people the same. It’s about treating people fairly. Coach Denney was a great mentor.”
Manning recalls another lesson he gleaned while wrestling under Denney, one he took with him to Lincoln.
“I coach to prepare young men for life,” he says. “Do we win wrestling matches? Sure. Are we going to lose them? Sure. But preparing people for life is what coach Denney did a great job of.”
Before the program began, Denney couldn’t have been more pleased with the turnout.
“My heart is feeling good,” he said. “Just look at the people here.”