Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About
    About UNO
    • Leadership
    • Mission and Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation
    • Our City: Omaha
    • Facts & Figures
    • News
    • Events
    • Organizational Units
    • Campus Safety
    • Buildings and Maps
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Campus Visit
    • Contact Us
    Front view of UNO's ASH building
    Get Started Today

    Apply Now
  • Academics
    Majors and Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Master's Programs
    • Doctoral Programs
    • International Programs
    • Online Programs
    • Class Search
    Colleges
    • College of Arts and Sciences
    • College of Business Administration
    • College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
    • College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
    • College of Information Science & Technology
    • College of Public Affairs and Community Service
    • Graduate Studies
    Resources
    • Catalogs
    • Academic Calendar
    • Library
    • Advising
    • Academic Affairs
    • Registrar
    • Academic Support
    • Request Transcript
    Top view glance of calendar showing August 2024
    Deadlines Are Approaching

    View year-at-a-glance calendars that include term start and end dates, and school holidays.

    Academic Calendar
  • Cost & Aid Backback to Main menu
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Support
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Undergraduate Scholarships
    • All Scholarship Information
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
  • Admissions
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Complete Your FAFSA
    • Schedule a Campus Visit
    • Request Info
    Admitted Students
    • Orientation
    • Enrollment Deposit
    • Transcripts
    • UNO 101
    • New Student & Family Events
    Cost & Aid
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Aid
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Scholarships
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
    Admissions
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Transfer Students
    • Graduate Admissions
    Students walking together on campus for a tour
    Visit UNO's Campus

    Schedule a Tour
  • Student Life
    Campus Life
    • Event Calendar
    • Athletics
    • Campus Dining
    • Student Housing
    • Campus Recreation
    • Milo Bail Student Center
    • Parking and Transportation
    • Campus Safety
    Involvement and Leadership
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Government
    • Career Services and Internships
    • Spirit and Tradition
    • Student Leadership, Involvement, and Inclusion
    Support
    • Academic Support
    • Maverick Advising Center
    • Accessibility
    • Durango's Advancement & Support Hub (DASH)
    • Student Service
    • Student Safety
    Resources
    • Health Services
    • Military-Connected Resources
    • Student Conduct and Community Standards
    • Division of Student Life and Wellbeing
    Students participating in a beading craft activity
    Get Involved on Campus

    See Events Calendar
  • Engagement
    Students
    • Student Service and Leadership Collaborative
    • Find Volunteer Opportunities
    • Maverick Food Pantry
    • Voter Information
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Career Services
    • Student Resources
    • Become an Engaged Scholar
    Faculty and Staff
    • Faculty Senate
    • Center for Faculty Excellence
    • Staff Advisory Council
    • Faculty Resources
    • Engaged Research
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Community-Based Learning Courses
    Community
    • Campus Resources
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Promote Volunteer Opportunities
    • Promote Internship Opportunities
    • Rent Office Space
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Community Engagement Partnership Initiative
    Office of Engagement
    • Connect to Campus
    • Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Rent Office Space
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Partner With Us
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Nebraska Business Development Center
    • Community Partners on Campus
    Student volunteering with a food bank
    Connect with Us

    Contact the Office of Engagement
  • Research
    Student
    • Research and Creative Activity Fair
    • Graduate Research (GRACA)
    • Student Conference Travel Fund
    • Undergraduate Scholarly Experience (FUSE) Fund
    Faculty
    • Grant Databases
    • External Funding
    • Awards and Committees
    • Office of Sponsored Programs
    Research at UNO
    • Office of Research and Creative Activity
    • Research News
    • Centers and Institutes
    Students giving presentations on research projects
    UNO Pushes Innovation Forward

    Read UNO Research News
  • Athletics
    Men's Teams
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    Women's Teams
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Golf
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    Game Day Resources
    • Purchase Tickets
    • Team Schedules
    • Buy Maverick Gear
    Baxter Arena
    • Calendar
    • Tickets
    • Directions & Parking
    • Clear Bag Policy
    • Public Skating
    Hockey player walking out on the ice arena
    Cheer on our Mavericks!

    Buy Tickets
  • Alumni Backback to Main menu
    • Alumni
    • Transcripts
    • Thompson Center
  1. UNO
  2. News
  3. 2022
  4. 03
  5. Chris Crutchfield Introduced as Omaha Men’s Basketball Head Coach

Chris Crutchfield Introduced as Omaha Men’s Basketball Head Coach

The Omaha community and fans were invited to attend Crutchfield’s introduction as Omaha men’s basketball coach on March 21 at Baxter Arena.

  • published: 2022/03/21
  • contact: Tony Boone - Omaha Athletics
  • phone: 402.554.6200
  • email: tboone@omavs.com
  • search keywords:
  • Omaha Mavericks
  • athletics
  • men's basketball
welcome home Chris Crutchfield

Once a Maverick, always a Maverick! Welcome home, Coach Crutchfield!

University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter looks on as Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell presents new Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield with a custom jersey.

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield at the podium

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield speaks to those in attendance at Baxter Arena and those watching the press conference remotely.

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield embraces loved ones.

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield embraces loved ones.

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield at the podium

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield speaks to those in attendance at Baxter Arena and those watching the press conference remotely.

From left to right: University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter, Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield, Vice Chancellor / Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell, and UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA.

From left to right: University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter, Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield, Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell, and UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA.

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield speaks to media.

Omaha men's basketball coach Chris Crutchfield speaks with the media following his formal introduction press conference at Baxter Arena.

Chris Crutchfield’s return to his alma mater will eventually be defined by success on the court.

The new men’s basketball coach at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) scored his first victory, however, by winning the press conference at Baxter Arena on Monday that reintroduced him to the community.

In a ceremony that featured University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter; UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA; and Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell, an emotional Crutchfield called his return to the school in which he earned two degrees and began his coaching career in the 1990s “a dream come true.”

“In my mind, I’ve been at this podium about 1,000 times. In the mirror tying a tie, driving down the street, sitting in traffic, I’ve rehearsed this speech because I knew God wanted me to come back here...this is super. I cannot believe this. Trust me, it’s been an emotional three or four days.”

 Chris Crutchfield (Omaha Men's Basketball Coach)

Crutchfield returned to Omaha from Oregon, where he spent the past year as an assistant under Dana Altman. The Ducks wrapped up their season on Saturday with a second-round NIT loss at Texas A&M.

Prior to that, he was the head coach at Division II East Central in Ada, Oklahoma, where two of his sons were playing. Crutchfield was the associate head coach for Arkansas before that after spending eight seasons in a similar roll under Lon Kruger at Oklahoma. He has also been an assistant at Oral Roberts, TCU, New Mexico State and UTSA after beginning his career as a graduate assistant then an assistant at Omaha.

Crutchfield thanked family, friends and those who made his return possible, as well as a number of men who impacted his journey – from former UNO football coach Sandy Buda and basketball coach Bob Hanson to the late Hall-of-Famer Lou Henson to Lon Kruger, Eric Musselman and Altman, among others.

“I wouldn’t be standing in front of you today without the help of those men,” he said.

Buda recruited him to Omaha. Hanson helped him find his love for basketball again. Former UNO coach Kevin Lehman gave him his first coaching job, and Tim Carter brought him to the Division I level at UTSA.

Crutchfield singled out Kruger, whom he coached under for eight years at Oklahoma, for giving him the opportunity to make decisions in recruiting and game preparation that directly impacted that program.

“He did that, and it gave me unbelievable confidence,” he said. “And for that, I’m indebted to him.”

Crutchfield brings more than 25 years of coaching experience to Omaha. He was so eager to return that he hushed Dowell while they were discussing the position with “don’t say anything else, I want the job.”

“He could’ve gave me two nickels, and I would’ve ran to Omaha,” Crutchfield said before acknowledging that his wife Jodi, also a UNO alum, would’ve had something to say about that.

“I wanted to be here,” he added. “I know the potential that this place has.”

Crutchfield stated his belief that Omaha men’s basketball, which has been within one win of an NCAA tournament berth twice since its transition to the Division I level, has its best days ahead of it. He said the city, his alma mater and Baxter Arena would all play key roles in the future success of his program.

“I can sell this place. I can sell UNO. I can sell Omaha,” he said. “Student-athletes around the country, get ready. I’m coming – because we’ve got something special here. I really believe that in my heart."


About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Follow UNO on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

  • News Sections:
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

News Sections

  • News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured Stories

  • 4,500 Students Named to UNO Dean’s and Chancellor’s Lists
  • UNO Hosts Ceremonial Groundbreaking for $17.1 Million Biomechanics Addition
  • UNO Celebrated Over 2,000 New Graduates at May 2025 Commencement
  • Terence “Bud” Crawford’s Commencement Knockout at UNO

Related Resources

  • Omaha Athletics
  • Omaha Men's Basketball

Contact Us

If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu.

About the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications (MarComm)

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.