Coach Speak: Seth Porter
12/8/2020
PRESENTED BY
In 2011, my family and I were living in Phoenix, Arizona and looking for a way to relocate back to our home state of Nebraska. I had heard that UNO was transitioning to Division I athletics and was starting a men’s golf program. I applied for the assistant men’s and women’s golf coach job and was fortunate enough to be hired. We loaded up the car with a three-year-old and a six-month-old baby and headed home.
Growing up in Hastings and attending Nebraska, I had limited knowledge of what UNO was about or what to expect when I arrived on campus. Truth be told, my only time on campus prior to my first day as an employee was printing off my wedding programs in my little sister’s dorm room at University Village in 2005. And yes, I did receive a parking ticket that day that probably was not paid. My first time walking around campus, I was amazed and knew that I was in the right place- Mammel Hall was brand new, the dorms were nicer than my house in Phoenix, Aksarben was growing and construction was happening all over campus.
My next step was meeting with Trev and listening to his vision for the department. I remember walking away thinking that his vision would be hard to accomplish. So far, everything that he told me was going to get done has gotten done - Caniglia Field, the Hamilton Academic Excellence Room, Baxter Arena and the soon to be open baseball and softball complex. To say that Omaha Athletics is an exciting and dynamic department would be an understatement. Great things have happened, but the best is yet to come!
In my opinion what separates Omaha Athletics from other institutions is the people. The mission at Omaha Athletics is to make the student-athlete the focal point of everything we do. My favorite line in the recruiting process is “If you fail at UNO, the only person to blame is the person looking back at you in the mirror.” The academic staff of Lindsey, Dani and Kale bend over backwards to help athletes in the classroom.
The athletic training staff led by Dr. Beacom and Mike Nicola make sure our athletes are healthy. Mike Lewis and Mike Shukis make sure our athletes are as strong and in the best possible shape for competition. The point is the resources and tools are here for any athlete to be successful both in their sport and life after athletics. All they have to do is show up and take advantage of the resources and the generosity of our staff.
It is an honor and privilege to work for Omaha Athletics. I am proud of our past, embracing our present and beyond excited for our future. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of this wonderful department and community!
