Husker A.D. Trev Alberts says "things going well" in search for next head football coach
Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts understands some Husker football fans might be a bit impatient as his search for a new head coach continues.
After all, the search began in mid-September soon after Scott Frost was fired Sept. 11.
“Things are going well,” Alberts said Wednesday night during his monthly radio show. “We’re where we had hoped to be and confident as we move forward. Obviously, we don’t have anything to announce here tonight.”
He said he doesn’t have a specific date in mind for an announcement, but is aware of the Dec. 5 opening of the transfer portal and the Dec. 21-23 early signing period.
“As I said (Sept. 11), we’re not going to rush a hire just to make a hire,” Alberts said. “At the same time, I recognize that we’re moving quickly toward when a decision will need to be made.”
Alberts added that he appreciates fans “giving us the space to do what we said we would do.”
“We were going to dive into a deep process, a detail-oriented process, and I think we’ve made very good progress,” he said.
Collegiate Sports Associates, based in North Carolina, is helping Alberts with the logistics of the search. He noted there a lot of people with whom to talk, including multiple agents.
“A lot of it is just coordinating conversations, those type of things,” Alberts said of CSA’s role.
The firm also helps Alberts ascertain candidates’ level of interest.
He also said he receives a lot of suggestions for candidates via his e-mail bin.
“Some of them are very good, frankly,” Alberts said. “I’m the kind of guy who likes to gather as much information as I possibly can and try to utilize all the tools we have at our disposal to do the very best we can, and to do the work.”
As the search has progressed, he’s learned plenty.
“I always expected there was a deep respect for the University of Nebraska and for what our culture is and what we stand for,” Alberts said. “But I think as a result of this process, I’ve learned there is more respect for the University of Nebraska than I even anticipated.
“There is a deep-seeded admiration for the history of what this place has accomplished and what it can and should become again.”
One of the primary reasons a football coach will take the Nebraska job is an extraordinary fan base, Alberts said.
“It’s the greatest thing we have to sell,” he said.
Only a few tickets remain for Saturday’s home game against Wisconsin, he said.
He expects the 389th straight sellout.
“We still have a few tickets left, obviously,” he said. “But I think they’ll be gone by Saturday. We’ll be in good shape.”
Other nuggets from Alberts
*** While Alberts said you always want to be a good steward with finances, he assured a caller that “we’re looking for the right fit. We’re not going to make decisions based on who we can hire to cost us the least amount of money.”
“I feel very confident that we’ll have the resources we need to hire the very best coach and very best fit for the University of Nebraska.”
*** He said he has “a lot of respect for Mickey Joseph” and the job he’s done as Nebraska’s interim head coach during a very challenging time. Alberts added he appreciates the entire staff, saying it’s continued to work very hard.
“I’ve had players express sincere gratitude for how — not just coach Joseph — but the rest of our coaches have continued to stay engaged and work hard and pour into those kids,” Alberts said. “It’s very, every meaningful to me.”
*** He said the new football training facility will be ready next summer. The project will be completed on time and on budget, he said.
*** He praised Michigan Stadium security for preventing any incidents between the teams Saturday. This season, there has been incidents in the Michigan Stadium tunnel leading to the locker rooms involving players from Michigan State and Penn State.
It was Alberts’ first trip to the Big House.
