Favorite Husker Basketball Coach and Why?

[BigTate]

Just for something to talk about while we wait for the season to begin.

 

Who is your favorite Husker basketball coach of all time and why?

 

I will say Danny Nee because Husker Hoops was a thing while Danny was the coach. He recruited some great players to come and play here! We won some great games in those days and of course the ties! 

Edited August 27, 2024 by BigTate
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[49r]

I gotta say Tim Miles.  He injected more enthusiasm and energy into the program than probably anyone else in my lifetime and he really did make Nebrasketball cool again.

 

Now, if Fred can get us into a position of being somewhat nationally relevant, I might be compelled to change my mind but as of right now, I gotta go with Miles.

[Dead Dog Alley]

Conference Win % at Nebraska
Joe Cipriano	52.9%
Moe Iba	53.6%
Danny Nee	43.1%
Barry Collier	37.5%
Doc Sadler	34.7%
Tim Miles	40.6%
Fred Hoiberg	30.6%

[Huskerpapa]

I liked Cip.  He was a motivator who surrounded himself with excellent assistant coaches.  He also brought in some really good players.

Needless to say, if he had today's rules, we could have a much better NCAA tournament record. 

[TourneyBound]

I always liked Doc  even though he wasn't very successful here.  

[aphilso1]

Funny enough, I actually really liked Collier.  He used to bring Valentino's pizzas to the Red Zone an hour before tip off, to thank those of us who got there early enough to razz the opponents during warm ups. And in the rare event that a student would get thrown out for crossing the line with a ref, Barry would remember that student and come say 'thank you' to him before the next game.  I know Barry came across as aloof, but in my interactions with him he was very personable. 

 

That being said, he sure stunk it up in the W's and L's department.

 

 

[jimmykc]

1. Adolf Lewandowski-he had to have a great personality to carry that name through the years of WWII without being fired. 1A. The first coach to win an NCAA tourney game. 2. Danny Nee-he brought pizazz to the program.

[Dead Dog Alley]

1 hour ago, jimmykc said:

1. Adolf Lewandowski-he had to have a great personality to carry that name through the years of WWII without being fired. 1A. The first coach to win an NCAA tourney game. 2. Danny Nee-he brought pizazz to the program.

 

Unfortunately Adolph Lewandowski brought the Win/Loss record of the average Adolph down quite a bit:

 

 

 

[HB]

This may be sacrilege, but I really liked Moe.  

[Navin R. Johnson]

4 hours ago, aphilso1 said:

Funny enough, I actually really liked Collier.  He used to bring Valentino's pizzas to the Red Zone an hour before tip off, to thank those of us who got there early enough to razz the opponents during warm ups. And in the rare event that a student would get thrown out for crossing the line with a ref, Barry would remember that student and come say 'thank you' to him before the next game.  I know Barry came across as aloof, but in my interactions with him he was very personable. 

 

That being said, he sure stunk it up in the W's and L's department.

 

 

 

He seemed like a nice guy, the one time I talked to him.  I think he was told to clean up the academic end of the program, and he did that.  

[HuskerBB]

2 hours ago, HB said:

This may be sacrilege, but I really liked Moe.  

He was the one I was going to list as well.    Not very personable with the media or others he did not know well and a little thin skinned - but a great basketball mind - and we did win consistently with him as the coach.

[HuskerFever]

No mention of Matt Abdelmassih? 

[lang]

Tim Miles.  Super entertaining and really sharp mind.  During my era ( Née onward ), I liked them all.  They all had things I liked and they coached my favorite team….so I rooted for them like crazy and defended them like crazy and wanted them to succeed so very badly!

[Handy Johnson]

Coach Nee, because he Smoked Cowboy Killers when we drank Kamikazes @ Cliff’s. 

[basketballjones]

It's Danny Nee and the only way anyone surpasses him is if they win a tournament game. 

 

Too young for anyone before him, Collier sucked. Doc - I love - but he just didn't get it done and honestly there were a lot of very frustrating things about his program and his time here. Kinda the same with Miles. 

[Handy Johnson]

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that during my Student Days of Courtside seats, Mo Iba took a Team to the NCAA Tournament (our 1st of course) with 6’ 4” Bernard Day Starting at Center. It’s easy to forget that sometimes…

[lang]

Can you name the staring 5 on that team after Hoppen went down ?   I think I have it, let’s see what you say.  I could look it up, but this is funnier (sic). 

[Handy Johnson]

2 hours ago, lang said:

Can you name the staring 5 on that team after Hoppen went down ?   I think I have it, let’s see what you say.  I could look it up, but this is funnier (sic). 

I’m almost ashamed to admit the only Starters I could think of without looking it up were Brian Carr & Jackman. Funny enough, I sat right beside Bernard Day in my Art History class & never said one word to him. We’ve met & hung out since he’s Great. It was Rag Tag Bunch but Moe “Coached Em Up” right over at Mabel Lee. Then sadly it was Done. 

[wish0922]

I'll go with Doc, but my reason is personal. 

 

In the summer of 2007, my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. My Dad was big Husker fan, season ticket holder of 4 or 5 sports, booster, etc. He was a true fanatic. When it was announced that Doc was coming here, he was excited. His sister, my aunt, was a UTEP basketball season ticket holder and booster. She loved Doc! 

 

Shortly before the first exhibition game in 2007, my Dad's condition had worsened. He had been in the hospital for about a month for treatment. He was fighting hard and we were hopeful that things were improving. 

 

My brother and I had this idea of reaching out to the coaches of the teams that he supported to see if we could meet up with them with a video camera and get them to share a quick "get well" message for our Dad. So, I contacted the director of operations for football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball, and Dan Kendig (gymnastics). 

 

Everyone responded. They were arranging for me to come down to meet Bill Callahan after a practice. Connie Yori's assistant said that Coach Yori wanted us to come down right when practice when was ending so that the whole team could participate. Dan Kendig gave me several times that he was available. John Cook was unavailable for me to come down there. But he did have someone from Huskervision record a two minute video message of him talking to my Dad wishing him well and talking about the upcoming season. He sent this on a DVD as well as a volleyball autographed by the team. 

 

The other response I got back was a phone call from Chris Croft, Doc's Director of Operations. He said Doc didn't want to do a video. Instead, he said Doc wanted to stop by the hospital and meet my Dad. I was floored by this, as this was WAY more than I was asking. So, we arranged for Doc to swing by the hospital on his way home after practice about 3 nights later. Unreal... 

 

Well, Tuesday, October 30th was the night that Doc was supposed to stop by. But that morning, I got a call from my Mom saying that my Dad had a rough night and that he wasn't expected to make it through the day and that I needed to get to the hospital. 

 

On my way to the hospital, Chris Croft called me to say that Doc's schedule opened up and he wanted to know if he could stop by in the next 30 minutes. I had to share the unfortunate news that my Dad probably wasn't going to make it through the day and that we'd have to cancel. About two hours later, my Dad passed away. 

 

Later that night, I emailed Chris Croft to let him know that my Dad had passed. And I thanked him and Doc for the incredible gesture. About a week later, I received a handwritten sympathy card from Doc addressed to me and my family. 

 

At my Dad's celebration of life service, there was a large floral display that had been sent from the athletic department and new athletic director, Tom Osborne. I can only assume that Doc Sadler had something to do with it. 

 

About 9 months later, my brother and I met Doc and his wife at an event. We introduced ourselves, and he knew exactly who we were. The first thing he said was "how's your Mom doing?" 

 

That man will always have a special place in my heart. 

[HB]

4 hours ago, Handy Johnson said:

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that during my Student Days of Courtside seats, Mo Iba took a Team to the NCAA Tournament (our 1st of course) with 6’ 4” Bernard Day Starting at Center. It’s easy to forget that sometimes…

Actually Chris Logan (6’5”) started at center after Hoppen went down at Colorado.  But I too loved those courtside seats during the Moe years.  Married my wife as a result of that 

Edited August 30, 2024 by HB

[Handy Johnson]

5 minutes ago, HB said:

Actually Chris Logan (6’5”) started at center after Hoppen went down at Colorado.  But I too loved those courtside seats during the Moe years.  Married my wife as a result of that 

I used to Party with a guy in Mpls that went to High School with Keith Neubert in Wisconsin. Could NOT believe he Played with Nebraska or the Jets. Never saw it Comin’ 

[Dead Dog Alley]

3 hours ago, lang said:

Can you name the staring 5 on that team after Hoppen went down ?   I think I have it, let’s see what you say.  I could look it up, but this is funnier (sic). 

 

Without looking - 

C  Chris Logan (listed at 6'5", probably 6'4")

F  John Matzke (6'6")

F Bernard Day (listed at 6'5" that year, 6'4" when Danny Nee came in and all Danny's recruits grew an inch and Moe's recruits dropped an inch)

G  Harvey Marshall (listed at 6'3"

G  Brian Carr (listed at 6'1" that year, 6'0" the next)

 

The primary backup was Anthony Bailous (6'3" / 6'2") with the primary lineup being Bailous replacing Matzke.

 

 

[Dead Dog Alley]

Just now, Handy Johnson said:

I used to Party with a guy in Mpls that went to High School with Keith Neubert in Wisconsin. Could NOT believe he Played with Nebraska or the Jets. Never saw it Comin’ 

 

Keith Neubert went to tell Danny that he was trying out for football.  Danny flipped out, threatened to pull his scholarship, acted about as negatively as humanly possible.  Neubert never talked to him again.

[Huskerpapa]

Geez HB...I could have sworn you were the originator of that iconic "Moe must go, dig up Joe" chant.  Kidding...just kidding!

[colhusker]

Nee slightly over Cip