I did not force Mike Kemp out’ at UNO, Alberts says
BY ROB WHITE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Two weeks after new UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts said it would be disingenuous to make a decision on Mike Kemp’s future as hockey coach within two weeks, Alberts did just that.
Former hockey coach Mike Kemp is stepping down as coach of UNO’s hockey team to become associate athletic director for hockey.
Kemp, the only coach in the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s 12 seasons of hockey, stepped down as coach and moved up to associate athletic director on Thursday.
“I sort of failed on that – but in a positive way,” Alberts said. “I was quick to judge Mike Kemp, and what I judged was the fact that Mike Kemp is an integral and vital part of what we need to accomplish here to save our hockey program and to save our athletic department.”
Alberts emphasized that the move was not a demotion, but a promotion, and that Kemp showed humility and selflessness in doing what was best for a UNO program that wants to build its hockey program for the benefit of all athletics.
“I did not force Mike Kemp out,” Alberts said. “I did not ask him to step down. I told him that if he wanted to continue coaching, I would do everything I possibly could to support him and help him be successful. But I also gave him the option of assuming this new role.”
Kemp said he deliberated for about a week before making the decision.
“I had a tough time, because you give up something that’s been part of your life for so long,” Kemp said. “But when I came here in the first place in 1996, it was to develop a program. I had a vision of what the program should be and could be. We’ve made progress at a rapid rate, but quite honestly there are still things we need to accomplish.”
In the end, Kemp’s report on his program led to the next phase of his career. Asked by Chancellor John Christensen to evaluate the program at the end of March, Kemp put together a 70-page report, not knowing who would review it. After Alberts was hired, Kemp sent the report to his new boss.
“I couldn’t believe how much, and how big of a job this really is,” Alberts said. “It was amazing to me that Mike Kemp had the abilities, and our teams had the abilities (to succeed), given all the requirements of this job. It dawned on me that we need to give Mike Kemp some help. We need an associate athletic director who can do nothing but really help our hockey program and take it to the next level. It was pretty clear to me that the only person who could do this job is Mike Kemp.”
Kemp’s responsibilities as coach also include working out logistics, being involved with marketing, having booster club responsibilities and budgeting.
“He was doing all the things an associate athletic director can do,” Alberts said. “Imagine having a hockey coach who can focus on just coaching. That’s just Division I hockey. That’s what’s mandatory.”
Kemp was 194-223-57 at UNO, including 15-17-8 in 2008-09, which included a school-record 14-game winless streak late in the season. UNO has made one appearance in the NCAA tournament. In nine years in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, UNO has never finished higher than fourth.
Kemp will fulfill the final year of his coaching contract in his new position, and also received a two-year extension. His current salary is $154,000. Beginning next year he receives the “commensurate salary and benefits of an associate athletic director,” according to UNO.
In the new role, Kemp will also oversee four women’s sports: cross country, track and field, golf and soccer. He’ll continue to serve in the head coaching capacity until his replacement is named. UNO doesn’t have a set timetable, but hopes to move swiftly.
Kemp had been a finalist for the athletic director’s position at UNO in 2007, but withdrew from consideration because he wanted to continue coaching. Alberts said this fills the final administrative opening at UNO, though he is looking to make hires for new positions in both marketing and ticketing.
Kemp fought his emotions during an afternoon press conference while thanking Assistant Athletic Director Don Leahy, seated next to him, who helped start the UNO hockey program and hired Kemp, his assistants, staff members, players and fans. Kemp also struggled while reflecting on his coaching career.
“What we have done in the 12 years of this program has been incredible,” he said. “We’ve set ourselves as a marquee program. It may not always garner the type of respect it deserves in our own community, but people who know about college hockey know about UNO hockey. It’s one of those programs that has risen from nowhere to being a program that has garnered great respect around the country. A lot of it is because of the fans.”