Leahy to Retire From UNO Duties June 30
Jun 7, 2005 | General
Don Leahy, who has spent 21 years as an athletic administrator at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, will retire June 30. Leahy has served as the assistant athletic director for the Mavericks since 1997 and spent a total of 13 years as the school's director of athletics since first joining the university in 1974.
"Don is an icon for the Mavericks and sports in this community," UNO Athletic Director David Herbster, who began his duties Jan. 1, said. "I have benefited greatly from just being around Don. It didn't take me long to realize the impact he has had on every one of our sports and our program in general."
Leahy, 76, first became the UNO athletic director in 1974 and served 11 years until leaving in June, 1985, to become the director of athletics at Creighton University. He retired from that post in 1991, but his retirement was short-lived. He once again became UNO's top athletic administrator in August of 1995 and supervised the master plan that added Division I hockey and four women's sports to the Maverick program.
The Omaha native then stepped down to become assistant athletic director in the summer of 1997 while elevating Bob Danenhauer to the top position.
Leahy's name has been synonymous with Omaha sports for decades. A graduate of Marquette University, he was one of the top collegiate quarterbacks in the country and played in the Blue-Grey Game in 1951. He then stepped into a 20-year career as a coach, teacher and administrator at Omaha's Creighton Prep High School. During that 1952-72 period he was head football coach for 17 years and led the Bluejays to eight state championships.
He became the director of coliseum activities at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha from 1972-74 before replacing Clyde Biggers as the UNO athletic director in June, 1974. Over the next 11 years, he guided the program into the NCAA Division II and the North Central Conference and helped combine the men's and women's athletic departments. The Mavericks climbed into prominence in several sports as the modern framework of the program was developed.
The UNO Maverick Club was formed, the Athletic Hall of Fame was started and major capital improvements were made to the Fieldhouse and the football stadium.
In addition to his bachelor's degree from Marquette, Leahy also holds a master's degree from Creighton. He and his wife, Carmen, have three grown children. Leahy is a member of the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the NCC Honor Award.
"Don is an icon for the Mavericks and sports in this community," UNO Athletic Director David Herbster, who began his duties Jan. 1, said. "I have benefited greatly from just being around Don. It didn't take me long to realize the impact he has had on every one of our sports and our program in general."
Leahy, 76, first became the UNO athletic director in 1974 and served 11 years until leaving in June, 1985, to become the director of athletics at Creighton University. He retired from that post in 1991, but his retirement was short-lived. He once again became UNO's top athletic administrator in August of 1995 and supervised the master plan that added Division I hockey and four women's sports to the Maverick program.
The Omaha native then stepped down to become assistant athletic director in the summer of 1997 while elevating Bob Danenhauer to the top position.
Leahy's name has been synonymous with Omaha sports for decades. A graduate of Marquette University, he was one of the top collegiate quarterbacks in the country and played in the Blue-Grey Game in 1951. He then stepped into a 20-year career as a coach, teacher and administrator at Omaha's Creighton Prep High School. During that 1952-72 period he was head football coach for 17 years and led the Bluejays to eight state championships.
He became the director of coliseum activities at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha from 1972-74 before replacing Clyde Biggers as the UNO athletic director in June, 1974. Over the next 11 years, he guided the program into the NCAA Division II and the North Central Conference and helped combine the men's and women's athletic departments. The Mavericks climbed into prominence in several sports as the modern framework of the program was developed.
The UNO Maverick Club was formed, the Athletic Hall of Fame was started and major capital improvements were made to the Fieldhouse and the football stadium.
In addition to his bachelor's degree from Marquette, Leahy also holds a master's degree from Creighton. He and his wife, Carmen, have three grown children. Leahy is a member of the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the NCC Honor Award.
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