Mavs to Start Spring Drills Saturday
The Mavericks will open spring practice Saturday morning, Mar. 25 at 10 a.m. in the first of 15 sessions, climaxed by a game-condition scrimmage on Saturday, April 22. A total of 91 players will be on the field, featuring 37 letterwinners that includes 10 starters. The Mavericks were originally scheduled to begin spring drills last Monday, Mar. 20, but an area snow storm forced the postponement.
The Coach
Nebraska-Omaha's Pat Behrns is now in his 13th season as the head coach with an 87-49 record at UNO and a 123-76 record in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Behrns is the all-time leader in wins at UNO. He is a 1972 graduate of Dakota State. Under Behrns the Mavericks have won NCC titles, in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2005 and made their fifth NCAA II playoff appearance last year. He has been named the NCC Coach of the Year three times. Behrns' 136 games is the most of any UNO head coach.
The Staff
The Maverick coaching staff returns nearly intact from last fall. Lance Leipold will be in his 10th season, his fourth as the offensive coordinator and third as the associate head coach. Brad McCaslin is in his 10th season overall and his second as the defensive coordinator. Scott Fuchs is in his fourth season as the offensive line coach and Nate Neuhaus is in his second year as the defensive secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. Alex Wood joined the staff in March and will coach the outside linebackers as well as serving as the special teams coordinator.
The Mavericks in 2005
UNO finished the year at 8-3 and shared the North Central Conference championship. The Mavericks lost in the second round of the NCAA II playoffs to Saginaw Valley State. The NCC title was the second straight, the fifth under coach Pat Behrns and the seventh all-time for UNO.
Key Returning Players
The Mavericks return seven players who earned first or second-team all-North Central Conference honors. First-teamers include offensive lineman Ben Hochstein , tight end Zac Herold and running back Kyle Kasperbauer on offense and linebacker Kenny Onatolu on defense. Second-team players include defensive back Randy Kush, linebacker Bobby Danenhauer and punter Don Grafton. Herold earned first-team All-American honors as well.
Key Losses
Quarterback Brian Masek, who broke almost all career offensive records during his four-year career, wide receiver Chris Denney, offensive lineman Scot Jorgensen and linebacker Taiwo Onatolu were all first-team all-NCC selections. Denney was the league's most valuable receiver for a second straight season. Other key losses include running back Jamar Day, the team's leading rusher each of the past two seasons, offensive linemen Scott Lee and Matt Schwen and defensive linemen Luke Ridder and Tom Cramer.
The Coach
Nebraska-Omaha's Pat Behrns is now in his 13th season as the head coach with an 87-49 record at UNO and a 123-76 record in 17 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Behrns is the all-time leader in wins at UNO. He is a 1972 graduate of Dakota State. Under Behrns the Mavericks have won NCC titles, in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2005 and made their fifth NCAA II playoff appearance last year. He has been named the NCC Coach of the Year three times. Behrns' 136 games is the most of any UNO head coach.
The Staff
The Maverick coaching staff returns nearly intact from last fall. Lance Leipold will be in his 10th season, his fourth as the offensive coordinator and third as the associate head coach. Brad McCaslin is in his 10th season overall and his second as the defensive coordinator. Scott Fuchs is in his fourth season as the offensive line coach and Nate Neuhaus is in his second year as the defensive secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. Alex Wood joined the staff in March and will coach the outside linebackers as well as serving as the special teams coordinator.
The Mavericks in 2005
UNO finished the year at 8-3 and shared the North Central Conference championship. The Mavericks lost in the second round of the NCAA II playoffs to Saginaw Valley State. The NCC title was the second straight, the fifth under coach Pat Behrns and the seventh all-time for UNO.
Key Returning Players
The Mavericks return seven players who earned first or second-team all-North Central Conference honors. First-teamers include offensive lineman Ben Hochstein , tight end Zac Herold and running back Kyle Kasperbauer on offense and linebacker Kenny Onatolu on defense. Second-team players include defensive back Randy Kush, linebacker Bobby Danenhauer and punter Don Grafton. Herold earned first-team All-American honors as well.
Key Losses
Quarterback Brian Masek, who broke almost all career offensive records during his four-year career, wide receiver Chris Denney, offensive lineman Scot Jorgensen and linebacker Taiwo Onatolu were all first-team all-NCC selections. Denney was the league's most valuable receiver for a second straight season. Other key losses include running back Jamar Day, the team's leading rusher each of the past two seasons, offensive linemen Scott Lee and Matt Schwen and defensive linemen Luke Ridder and Tom Cramer.
