UNO Magazine: Omaha Athletics Spring Recap

From the Spring 2023 UNO Magazine

Football Alumni Reunion

More than 200 attended the first-ever Omaha Football Alumni Reunion on January 12, 2023, at the Omaha vs. North Dakota basketball game at Baxter Arena. Among those attending were former Coach Sandy Buda and Athletic Director Bob Danenhauer. All alumni were honored at halftime and treasures from the football archives collection were on display.

Omaha and OU Football Criss Library Archives & Special Collections

Omaha and OU Football’s annual media guides, game programs, films, photographs and more are archived within the Criss Library Archives & Special Collections and are available to view online at libguides.unomaha.edu/UniversityArchives/tangerinebowl. If you have materials to donate to the archives, contact Amy C. Schindler, director of archives and special collections, at acschindler@unomaha.edu or 402.554.6046.

Breaking Records

At the February 28, 2023, Omaha Men’s Basketball game, UNO graduates attending Alumni Night on the Court were among the 3,242 attendees – the 2nd largest crowd of the year at Baxter Arena and 9th largest in D1 history for a Men’s Basketball game.

The team’s success is growing the Maverick fanbase and ticket sales revenue for Maverick Men’s Basketball has nearly doubled over the 2021–22 season. It’s not just basketball, Women’s Volleyball ticket sales revenue nearly tripled this past season and Men’s Hockey single ticket sales revenue is up 30%. A sell-out crowd and attendance of 7,942 for Military Appreciation Night on February 10, 2023, was the highest attended Omaha Hockey game in Baxter Arena history. Maverick Hockey currently has the 2nd largest growth in the nation with a more than 1,900 per game increase in attendance in 2022–23 vs. 2021- 22. Top growth has been seen at Arizona State University with the opening of their new 5,000-seat multipurpose arena in fall 2022. Their maximum capacity at their former rink was 747.

Honoring Hockey Assistant Coach Paul Jerrard

Hockey assistant coach, Paul Jerrard, passed away on February 15, 2023, at the age of 57.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of assistant coach, Paul Jerrard. Paul had been quietly fighting a long-term battle with cancer. Our program will be forever indebted to PJ for his countless positive impact," Omaha hockey Head Coach Mike Gabinet said.

“There were no small jobs for PJ, and he never had a bad day, he made the people around him better and we will forever miss his presence in our locker room and lives. He was a man who lived his life with great integrity, class and the desire to always be the best role model and citizen he could be. He was my coach, mentor, colleague and most importantly friend who will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Cheryl and daughters Catherine and Meaghan.”

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jerrard began playing with the Lake Superior University Lakers in 1983. His 14-year professional and collegiate career included a stint in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars, the Hershey Bears in the AHL, Colorado Rangers, Kalamazoo Wings, Albany Choppers and Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League.

Jerrard spent 23 years behind the bench as an assistant coach in the National Hockey League, American Hockey League and National Collegiate Athletic Association including his time with the Omaha Mavericks since 2018. A pioneer of the sport as a player and a coach, Jerrard strived to make the game of hockey more inclusive and diverse.

An Omaha Hockey Memorial Scholarship has been established in Jerrad’s honor. You can contribute at nufoundation.org/jerrard.