March 13, 2025 • 11 mins
Omaha's AD Adrian Dowell Reflects on the Journey to the Tourney
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I was able to get connected with our friends over
at the University of Nebraska Omaha. I've been a part
of their hockey games as kind of the on ice
MC during the intermissions, and it's been a lot of
fun being able to watch the games, being able to
get to know the team and everybody involved. And it
just so happens to be maybe the best time ever
to be involved with the University of Nebraska Omaha as
far as athletics are concerned, considering the men's basketball team
(00:23):
making it to the Big Dance, they're going to the
NCAA Tournament for the first time, the hockey team really
good still, and they're playing in home series for the
NCHC tournament coming up this weekend, and then of course
baseball and softball both have plenty of things to highlight
there as well. And joining us as a guy who's
overseen all of it. Adrian Dowell, the athletic director over
at UNO. Adrian, thanks so much for being back on
(00:45):
our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Man, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
No problem is it's got to be a really exciting
time for you. I know that your job is crazy
and you have a lot that is involved with being
the director of athletics at a Division one institution. Just
how have you been feeling over the last few weeks
seeing all this stuff happening?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You know, you're right times a little crazy in our industry,
for sure, it is a lot of work, but man,
it's a great time to be a map. It makes
all that hard work worth it. And you know, the
cool thing about it is, you know we have in
Croble University or student athletes are unbelievable people, great coaches.
I know you've gotten to know a few of them.
So it's really neat to kind of sit in my
(01:25):
chair and kind of see the success are happening because
they definitely deserve it.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So one of the like, I want to start with
basketball because that's been dominating headlines out of your institution
on a national level. The trash can thing, I know,
but the trash can thing has taken it to a
level beyond what you know the Summit League champion would
normally get attention wise, and the personality of this team,
the ability that they have had to sustain the success
(01:50):
that they had starting in conference play. But it's been
really well documented about one of the first things that
you did when you became the ad a few years
ago was hiring Chris Crutchfield to lead this basketball team.
What did you see in him? And what have you
seen in the growth of this program the last few
years under his leadership.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Well, I mean what I really, what I'm really appreciative
of right now is that the rest of the world
gets to see exactly who Chris is. You know, when
we went through the interview process, as a resume speaks
for itself. I mean, he's literally was one of the
most qualified assistant coaches I would say maybe in the
history of college basketball or the Cannennis track record. And
you know, for the life of me, I just couldn't
(02:29):
figure out how he didn't get his first opportunity before this.
But I guess that some things are meant to be.
You know, it was meant to be that even get
his first gig at is Alla mother. And you know,
one of the things that attracted me to him when
we were going through the process was he was bounded
and determined not only get the job, but also you know,
be the person to lead us for the first time
(02:50):
in March Madness. And you know what's been really neat
for me to see over the past three years or
so it's just the process along the way, and more importantly,
you know, not only great coach mentor he is too
obviously the student athletes on this team. But I don't
think if you walked around our department in entire campus
that you don't see a lot of big Chris crutch
(03:11):
Crutchfield fans, and that was in place well before they
made this incredible run as of late. You just the
rights fit for this programming university.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
We're speaking with Adrian dal who's the athletic director at
the University of Nebraska Omaha. You're seeing this team play
and it has they have. You know, the coaches do
the recruiting and building this team, but it's been done
in a way that a lot of these guys have
been here for multiple years, which is tough to do
at the D one level these days. They're going to
the NCAA tournament. By all accounts, it seems like most
(03:41):
places have them listed as a fifteen seed. I guess
they could land in the fourteen, fifteen or sixteen line
and they'll be a big underdog, but they'll have a
chance to even further the branding of this university and
continue kind of the ambassadorship if you will, about this
university that I'm sure many people just kind of forget about,
(04:01):
especially on a national level, because you have Creighton, who's
dominated in basketball of this region, and then of course Nebraska,
which dominates in football. What is it about this opportunity
that gives your athletic department the unique opportunity to be
seen by eyeballs that never would have seen a U
(04:21):
and O MAVs game or a unit U and O
MAVs logo, or your coaches or your players and anything
else that you guys will have a chance to do.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, you know, I think it's the perfect kind of situation.
A lot of things come together, Like, first of all,
and you brought it up, the program was kind of
going viral six weeks head in the March Madness, right. Usually,
you know when schools make March Madness much less for
the first time, that's when they kind of start trending nationally.
And you know, for a number of reasons, trash cans included,
(04:50):
but also competitive success included. You know, the men's basketball
program has been almost a national darling in the last
six weeks, so that's just compounded on them when of
their season certainly the conference tournament title, and then on
top of that, you know, case study after case study
shows what happens for an institution when you have a
team make March battest for the first time. So a
(05:12):
lot of work was putting into making this moment reality,
for sure. But I think the other dynamic too is
you know, I think people have noticed over the past
couple of years the comprehensive success we've had as an
athlex program, right, not just men's basketball. You brought it up.
We've got a ring hockey team that had a huge
win over the past weekend and we're hosting home ice
only for the second team the second time ever in
(05:34):
the nation's toughest conference. We've got a softball program that's
in the top twenty five, a baseball program that just
keeps taking out Power five opponents, including a number two
ranked LSU a couple of weeks ago, and you know,
talking about volleyball and women's soccer, men's soccer, it's just
it's all come together over the past couple of years
where we're starting to have holistic success and this is
(05:55):
just you know, the cherry on top. And to your point,
my brand's never been as relevant as it is right
now for a number of reasons. And what I really
feel good about this is, you know, I think our
university is really a position, especially with the infrastructure and
the personnel and place that really sees this moment because
you know, if we make the right decisions here over
the next couple of weeks, you know, I think this
(06:17):
is going to yield benefits for institution and community over
the next couple of years.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, and Adrian Dale joining us. He's the director of
athletics at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
This.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Uh, I just wanted to kind of reiterate this real
quick because I am just so floored by how good
everything is going over there at the University of Nebraska
Omaha right now. And this hockey team. When when you
last were on the show, you were like, that's really
our cornerstone program because it is so unique. It is
so important to have something that we can hang our
(06:49):
hat on a on a national level and make the
NCAA tournament and we're recruiting great players and all of that.
It's really really fascinating how different that style of program
is versus like basketball or maybe a football program is.
But this team itself has come on lately, and now
you get the unique opportunity to host at least two
games it's the best two out of three in the
(07:10):
NCCHC tournament coming up this weekend. What can you tell
us we should expect and for the people who are
going to try to pack into Backster Arena and watch
what will be really competitive, high intensity hockey in the
college level.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Well, college hockey is incredible to begin with, but I'm
not sure much beats playoff hockey. It's just it's to
a different level, not only the intensity on the ice,
but just the environments in the bars when you get
into playoff season and it's do or die, especially in
the best of three series in the nation's best conference.
When it comes to college hockey, it's a really neat moment.
(07:46):
And you know, we had this opportunity for the first
time in backs To Arena the members of the NCHD
two years ago, and ironically it was getting to North Dakota,
which you know a lot of our fan base would
probably consider them archie Ms number one. But this is
the second time, so huge opportunity for us, huge advantage
being able to play this series that you know, really
(08:07):
your season clings on being able to play that in
the confines of home as well. So we're really excited,
as you know, you're a huge part of our game
day atmosphere, and we're gonna do everything we can't give
the boys the homelice advantage and hopefully, you know, win
two in a row or win two three so we
can advance to the Frozen Faceoffs only for the second
time the program history, and you know, for the last time.
(08:27):
It's actually being located at the Excel Center in Saint Paul,
So it'd be really big for the program to get
there again.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Man, that'd be so cool. Okay, So we could talk
all day about all this stuff, but I just want
to kind of finish up with this for now. The
weekend is going to be gigantic for so many different reasons.
We just mentioned the hockey. You got some baseball and
softball that are starting kind of their home schedule in
you know, right on campus, right next to where Baxter
(08:54):
Arena is. But you also are going to have a
big party for selection Sunday to see where this basketball
team is going at Mammal Hall well as well. So
can you kind of talk through all the different things
that if somebody wants to just get a taste of
what it's like to be a Maverick for this weekend,
how important it is to be a part of this community,
and what everybody can kind of expect this weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Yeah. Yeah, that's a really cool concept. So as first
all started last night, Coach Evanport and baseball program a
huge win versus Kansas State out of Big twelve and
Maverick Park is a beautiful night. Our softball program hitster
road today they're taking on Kansas and what I love
dollar baseball and softball program. I don't care who they
are playing. They're not going to take it back seat
(09:34):
to anyone. Right, the bigger the opponent, the more they shine,
and specially a softball program, they are top twenty five good.
So we've got that going on this week. Obviously, Tomorrow
game one of possibly a three game series at home
for the hockey program. So at seven pm on Friday
and Saturday, we definitely know we're playing hockey versus North Dakota.
(09:55):
If necessary, there is a game three on Sunday that
will be at six pm. At five pm on Sunday,
we are definitely going to have a watch party for
this historic moment for our men's basketball program as they're
entering March Madness for the first time in school history.
As you can imagine, there will be a lot of
national attention media here on campus. We're going to do
(10:17):
that game, We're gonna do that watch party at Mamma Hall.
So we have an incredible academic facility for a business
school at Mamma Hall right there on Scott Campus by
the Exorbant Village. So that's where we're going to have
that at five o'clock. And as soon as that's over,
hopefully the whole fan base will sprint down the Exorbent
Drive and get to Baxter Arena for what could be
a huge Game three for hockey as well. So and
(10:39):
then going into next week, as soon as Sunday night
the game's over, not only what will be planning on
where we're going for the NSA tournament for men's basketball,
but we are fully prepared to be playing to go
to Saint Paul for the Frozen face off the fall
on weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Oh man, cannot wait. It's going to be absolutely fantastic
on all fronts. And the guy that's making it all happen,
a guy that you'll be seeing in the arena'll be
seeing at the ballpark. The guy who's making all this
happen is the athletic director at the University of Nebraska,
maw Adrian Dal. Adrian my man, always great talking to you.
Can't wait to see it tomorrow night at the hockey game,
and just congratulations and all the success.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Well, I appreciate it, and all this is happening because
it's everyone around us, and hey, let's have some fun
this weekend. Big, it's never been a better time to.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Be a math Absolutely one and ten percent. Big thanks
to Adrian Dal for joining us well. Of course, have
plenty of coverage on all of that as well as
we move forward into the weekend tomorrow. Right now, it
is for nineteen. You're listening to news Radio eleven ten KFAB.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Emery Sunger on news Radio eleven ten KFAB
I was able to get connected with our friends over
at the University of Nebraska Omaha. I've been a part
of their hockey games as kind of the on ice
MC during the intermissions, and it's been a lot of
fun being able to watch the games, being able to
get to know the team and everybody involved. And it
just so happens to be maybe the best time ever
to be involved with the University of Nebraska Omaha as
far as athletics are concerned, considering the men's basketball team
(00:23):
making it to the Big Dance, they're going to the
NCAA Tournament for the first time, the hockey team really
good still, and they're playing in home series for the
NCHC tournament coming up this weekend, and then of course
baseball and softball both have plenty of things to highlight
there as well. And joining us as a guy who's
overseen all of it. Adrian Dowell, the athletic director over
at UNO. Adrian, thanks so much for being back on
(00:45):
our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Man, thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
No problem is it's got to be a really exciting
time for you. I know that your job is crazy
and you have a lot that is involved with being
the director of athletics at a Division one institution. Just
how have you been feeling over the last few weeks
seeing all this stuff happening?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
You know, you're right times a little crazy in our industry,
for sure, it is a lot of work, but man,
it's a great time to be a map. It makes
all that hard work worth it. And you know, the
cool thing about it is, you know we have in
Croble University or student athletes are unbelievable people, great coaches.
I know you've gotten to know a few of them.
So it's really neat to kind of sit in my
(01:25):
chair and kind of see the success are happening because
they definitely deserve it.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
So one of the like, I want to start with
basketball because that's been dominating headlines out of your institution
on a national level. The trash can thing, I know,
but the trash can thing has taken it to a
level beyond what you know the Summit League champion would
normally get attention wise, and the personality of this team,
the ability that they have had to sustain the success
(01:50):
that they had starting in conference play. But it's been
really well documented about one of the first things that
you did when you became the ad a few years
ago was hiring Chris Crutchfield to lead this basketball team.
What did you see in him? And what have you
seen in the growth of this program the last few
years under his leadership.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Well, I mean what I really, what I'm really appreciative
of right now is that the rest of the world
gets to see exactly who Chris is. You know, when
we went through the interview process, as a resume speaks
for itself. I mean, he's literally was one of the
most qualified assistant coaches I would say maybe in the
history of college basketball or the Cannennis track record. And
you know, for the life of me, I just couldn't
(02:29):
figure out how he didn't get his first opportunity before this.
But I guess that some things are meant to be.
You know, it was meant to be that even get
his first gig at is Alla mother. And you know,
one of the things that attracted me to him when
we were going through the process was he was bounded
and determined not only get the job, but also you know,
be the person to lead us for the first time
(02:50):
in March Madness. And you know what's been really neat
for me to see over the past three years or
so it's just the process along the way, and more importantly,
you know, not only great coach mentor he is too
obviously the student athletes on this team. But I don't
think if you walked around our department in entire campus
that you don't see a lot of big Chris crutch
(03:11):
Crutchfield fans, and that was in place well before they
made this incredible run as of late. You just the
rights fit for this programming university.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
We're speaking with Adrian dal who's the athletic director at
the University of Nebraska Omaha. You're seeing this team play
and it has they have. You know, the coaches do
the recruiting and building this team, but it's been done
in a way that a lot of these guys have
been here for multiple years, which is tough to do
at the D one level these days. They're going to
the NCAA tournament. By all accounts, it seems like most
(03:41):
places have them listed as a fifteen seed. I guess
they could land in the fourteen, fifteen or sixteen line
and they'll be a big underdog, but they'll have a
chance to even further the branding of this university and
continue kind of the ambassadorship if you will, about this
university that I'm sure many people just kind of forget about,
(04:01):
especially on a national level, because you have Creighton, who's
dominated in basketball of this region, and then of course Nebraska,
which dominates in football. What is it about this opportunity
that gives your athletic department the unique opportunity to be
seen by eyeballs that never would have seen a U
(04:21):
and O MAVs game or a unit U and O
MAVs logo, or your coaches or your players and anything
else that you guys will have a chance to do.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, you know, I think it's the perfect kind of situation.
A lot of things come together, Like, first of all,
and you brought it up, the program was kind of
going viral six weeks head in the March Madness, right. Usually,
you know when schools make March Madness much less for
the first time, that's when they kind of start trending nationally.
And you know, for a number of reasons, trash cans included,
(04:50):
but also competitive success included. You know, the men's basketball
program has been almost a national darling in the last
six weeks, so that's just compounded on them when of
their season certainly the conference tournament title, and then on
top of that, you know, case study after case study
shows what happens for an institution when you have a
team make March battest for the first time. So a
(05:12):
lot of work was putting into making this moment reality,
for sure. But I think the other dynamic too is
you know, I think people have noticed over the past
couple of years the comprehensive success we've had as an
athlex program, right, not just men's basketball. You brought it up.
We've got a ring hockey team that had a huge
win over the past weekend and we're hosting home ice
only for the second team the second time ever in
(05:34):
the nation's toughest conference. We've got a softball program that's
in the top twenty five, a baseball program that just
keeps taking out Power five opponents, including a number two
ranked LSU a couple of weeks ago, and you know,
talking about volleyball and women's soccer, men's soccer, it's just
it's all come together over the past couple of years
where we're starting to have holistic success and this is
(05:55):
just you know, the cherry on top. And to your point,
my brand's never been as relevant as it is right
now for a number of reasons. And what I really
feel good about this is, you know, I think our
university is really a position, especially with the infrastructure and
the personnel and place that really sees this moment because
you know, if we make the right decisions here over
the next couple of weeks, you know, I think this
(06:17):
is going to yield benefits for institution and community over
the next couple of years.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Yeah, and Adrian Dale joining us. He's the director of
athletics at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
This.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Uh, I just wanted to kind of reiterate this real
quick because I am just so floored by how good
everything is going over there at the University of Nebraska
Omaha right now. And this hockey team. When when you
last were on the show, you were like, that's really
our cornerstone program because it is so unique. It is
so important to have something that we can hang our
(06:49):
hat on a on a national level and make the
NCAA tournament and we're recruiting great players and all of that.
It's really really fascinating how different that style of program
is versus like basketball or maybe a football program is.
But this team itself has come on lately, and now
you get the unique opportunity to host at least two
games it's the best two out of three in the
(07:10):
NCCHC tournament coming up this weekend. What can you tell
us we should expect and for the people who are
going to try to pack into Backster Arena and watch
what will be really competitive, high intensity hockey in the
college level.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Well, college hockey is incredible to begin with, but I'm
not sure much beats playoff hockey. It's just it's to
a different level, not only the intensity on the ice,
but just the environments in the bars when you get
into playoff season and it's do or die, especially in
the best of three series in the nation's best conference.
When it comes to college hockey, it's a really neat moment.
(07:46):
And you know, we had this opportunity for the first
time in backs To Arena the members of the NCHD
two years ago, and ironically it was getting to North Dakota,
which you know a lot of our fan base would
probably consider them archie Ms number one. But this is
the second time, so huge opportunity for us, huge advantage
being able to play this series that you know, really
(08:07):
your season clings on being able to play that in
the confines of home as well. So we're really excited,
as you know, you're a huge part of our game
day atmosphere, and we're gonna do everything we can't give
the boys the homelice advantage and hopefully, you know, win
two in a row or win two three so we
can advance to the Frozen Faceoffs only for the second
time the program history, and you know, for the last time.
(08:27):
It's actually being located at the Excel Center in Saint Paul,
So it'd be really big for the program to get
there again.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Man, that'd be so cool. Okay, So we could talk
all day about all this stuff, but I just want
to kind of finish up with this for now. The
weekend is going to be gigantic for so many different reasons.
We just mentioned the hockey. You got some baseball and
softball that are starting kind of their home schedule in
you know, right on campus, right next to where Baxter
(08:54):
Arena is. But you also are going to have a
big party for selection Sunday to see where this basketball
team is going at Mammal Hall well as well. So
can you kind of talk through all the different things
that if somebody wants to just get a taste of
what it's like to be a Maverick for this weekend,
how important it is to be a part of this community,
and what everybody can kind of expect this weekend.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Yeah. Yeah, that's a really cool concept. So as first
all started last night, Coach Evanport and baseball program a
huge win versus Kansas State out of Big twelve and
Maverick Park is a beautiful night. Our softball program hitster
road today they're taking on Kansas and what I love
dollar baseball and softball program. I don't care who they
are playing. They're not going to take it back seat
(09:34):
to anyone. Right, the bigger the opponent, the more they shine,
and specially a softball program, they are top twenty five good.
So we've got that going on this week. Obviously, Tomorrow
game one of possibly a three game series at home
for the hockey program. So at seven pm on Friday
and Saturday, we definitely know we're playing hockey versus North Dakota.
(09:55):
If necessary, there is a game three on Sunday that
will be at six pm. At five pm on Sunday,
we are definitely going to have a watch party for
this historic moment for our men's basketball program as they're
entering March Madness for the first time in school history.
As you can imagine, there will be a lot of
national attention media here on campus. We're going to do
(10:17):
that game, We're gonna do that watch party at Mamma Hall.
So we have an incredible academic facility for a business
school at Mamma Hall right there on Scott Campus by
the Exorbant Village. So that's where we're going to have
that at five o'clock. And as soon as that's over,
hopefully the whole fan base will sprint down the Exorbent
Drive and get to Baxter Arena for what could be
a huge Game three for hockey as well. So and
(10:39):
then going into next week, as soon as Sunday night
the game's over, not only what will be planning on
where we're going for the NSA tournament for men's basketball,
but we are fully prepared to be playing to go
to Saint Paul for the Frozen face off the fall
on weekend.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Oh man, cannot wait. It's going to be absolutely fantastic
on all fronts. And the guy that's making it all happen,
a guy that you'll be seeing in the arena'll be
seeing at the ballpark. The guy who's making all this
happen is the athletic director at the University of Nebraska,
maw Adrian Dal. Adrian my man, always great talking to you.
Can't wait to see it tomorrow night at the hockey game,
and just congratulations and all the success.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Well, I appreciate it, and all this is happening because
it's everyone around us, and hey, let's have some fun
this weekend. Big, it's never been a better time to.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
Be a math Absolutely one and ten percent. Big thanks
to Adrian Dal for joining us well. Of course, have
plenty of coverage on all of that as well as
we move forward into the weekend tomorrow. Right now, it
is for nineteen. You're listening to news Radio eleven ten KFAB.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Emery Sunger on news Radio eleven ten KFAB
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.