April 24, 2006
Kemp Next to Get New Deal
CHN Staff Report
OMAHA, Neb. — Mike Kemp, who led Nebraska-Omaha to its first NCAA Tournament appearance this season and is the only head coach the program has had in its nine years, has signed a new four-year contract. The contract runs from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2010.
"(Kemp) has built a strong foundation for the program and one that we will continue to move forward with Mike at the helm," said UNO athletic director David Herbster.
Kemp guided the Mavericks the NCAAs after a 20-15-6 season in which they tied for fourth in the CCHA. He has a nine-year record of 144-171-37 and has led the Mavericks to the CCHA semifinals twice and the championship game once in the seven seasons UNO has been in the conference. He was the CCHA coach of the year in 2005 and three times has been a finalist for the national coach of the year award. The program has produced three All-Americans and six players who have performed in the National Hockey League.
The Mavericks in 2005 were the most improved team in college hockey. This season, UNO had the CCHA player of the year, Scott Parse, and the league's scholar athlete of the year, Mike Eickman. In 2001, the Mavericks' Jason Cupp won the Hockey Humanitarian Award.
"I am thrilled with the opportunity to continue the growth and development of this program that we started with it's inception in 1996," Kemp said. "We have experienced tremendous development in a short amount of time and I look forward to guiding the program to greater heights. I appreciate the confidence and support that David Herbster has shown in our staff and look forward to working with him to make Maverick Hockey the premier sporting event in the city."
UNO launched its Division I hockey program on May 1, 1996 and Kemp, who coached the school's club hockey program in 1974-75, was named head coach in June of 1996. UNO played its first game on October 17, 1997.
The 53-year-old Kemp is a native of Duluth, Minn., and a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. He spent 13 years as an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin before coming to UNO.
