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Nebraska Soccer

Hibner Stadium

Click here for a tour of Hibner Stadium

The Husker Hooligans is a student-run fan group

Barbara Hibner Soccer Stadium was completed in the summer of 2015. Hibner Stadium joins the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center as the impressive new components of the Nebraska Soccer and Tennis Complex.

Barbara Hibner Field also features a new technologically advanced video and scoreboard controlled by HuskerVision to enhance the exciting atmosphere at Nebraska soccer games. Barbara Hibner Field has a fully functioning press box that includes a dedicated area for television and video cameras sits atop 2,500 seats in the grandstand for Nebraska's devout soccer fans.

The soccer program also benefits from new game-day locker rooms, meeting rooms and athletic medicine areas that make the entire game-day experience among the best in the nation for student-athletes.

Alloy Strength Complex

Click here for a tour of the Alloy Strength Complex

The Huskers utilize the David and Carol Alloy Strength Complex. The model strength and conditioning program in the nation, Husker Power plays a major role in the continuing success of Nebraska Athletics. Nebraska's strength program was the first in the nation, and their facilities have set the standard in collegiate athletics since the early 1970s. With 14 staff members, Husker Power is one of the most comprehensive strength and conditioning organizations in the nation.

Indoor Training

Click here for a tour of the Hawks Championship Center Locker Room

The Hawks Championship Center opened for the soccer team during the spring of 2006. The magnificent facility features FieldTurf ideal for year-round indoor training for the Huskers. New FieldTurf was installed in the summer of 2016.

Named after a former Husker defender, the Jenna Cooper Team Room includes a flat screen, high-definition television, a conference table and a lounge area for hosting team meetings and other gatherings. Players and coaches have ample space to view game or practice video, giving them a greater edge in preparing for competition.

Head Coach John Walker

John Walker came to Lincoln in April 1994 and 27 seasons later, he has built a tradition-rich program at Nebraska that includes 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, two trips to the Elite Eight, six trips to the Sweet 16 and 10 conference championships, including a pair of Big Ten titles in 2013.

Coaching Honors

  • 13 Players to 19 NSCAA All-America Honors
  • 50 First-Team All-Conference Awards
  • 17th in Victories Among Active Coaches
  • NSCAA National Coach of the Year (1996)
  • NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year (1996, 2013)
  • Conference Coach of the Year (1996, 1999, 2013)
  • One Big Ten Regular-Season Title (2013)
  • One Big Ten Tournament Title (2013)
  • Three Big 12 Regular-Season Titles (1996, 1999, 2000)
  • Five Big 12 Tournament Titles (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002)
John Walker, Marty Everding and Ian Bridge

Assistant Coach Marty Everding

  • 24 Seasons at Nebraska
  • Coached at NU from 1994-2006 and 2010-Present
  • Coached Emma Stevens to career saves record (278)
  • Coached Karina LeBlanc, who posted a 0.40 goals-against average in 2000
  • Played at Queen's University (1981-83, 1986-88)
  • Assistant Coach at Queen's University (1989-90)
  • Canadian Level IV Coaching License

Assistant Coach Ian Bridge

  • 7th Season at Nebraska in 2021
  • Men's Assistant Coach at the University of Victoria (2013-14)
  • Women's Head Coach at the University of Victoria for 11 seasons (1990-2001)
  • Assistant Coach Canadian Women's National Team (1997-2009)
  • Coached in 3 World Cups (1999, 2003, 2007) and the 2008 Olympics
  • Head Coach of Canada U-19/U-20 Women's Team (2001-2008)
  • Head Coach of Canada U-17 Women's Team (2009-2010)
  • Professional career from 1979-1991. Seattle Sounders (1979-83), Vancouver Whitecaps (1984), FC La Chaux-de-Fonds (1985-1990)
  • Played for Canada in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico

Sustained Success

Nebraska has made 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including eight trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 and a pair of Elite Eight berths. In that time, the Huskers also won a conference-best five Big 12 Tournament titles and had 70 student-athletes earn first-team All-Big 12 honors. The Huskers transitioned to the Big Ten Conference in 2011, adding 28 all-conference honors and claiming both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles in 2013.

Jaycie Johnson was the latest Husker to earn All-American honors. She earned the honor in 2016 after scoring a team-high 11 goals

Huskers By the Numbers

  • 2 NCAA Elite Eight Appearances
  • 10 Conference Titles
  • 8 Sweet 16 Appearances
  • 11 World Cup Competitors, including three in 2015
  • 12 NCAA Tournament Appearances
  • 19 All-America Awards
  • 98 All-Conference Selections
Sinclaire Miramontez was a three-time All-Big Ten selection, including first teams honors in 2017 and 2018, as well as a second-team honors in 2019

Player Development

The Nebraska Soccer program has one of the country’s finest reputation for Player Development.

All-American Ari Romero (left) represented Mexico at the 2015 World Cup

Nebraska’s detailed and holistic approach to development is unique to college athletics and many current and former Husker players have progressed to competing with their respective National teams and/or continuing their soccer careers at the professional level.

Three former Huskers represented Canada at the 2008 Olympic Games, in the country’s first-ever Olympic appearance, while Brittany Timko and Karina LeBlanc both represented Canada at the 2012 Games in London.

Selenia Iacchelli (right) made her first World Cup appearance in 2015, helping the Canadians to a trip to the quarterfinals.

Since the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991, 11 former Nebraska soccer players have participated in the seven World Cup competitions held to date. The most recent World Cup, held in 2015, included former Huskers Ari Romero (Mexico), Karina LeBlanc (Canada) and Selenia Iachelli (Canada)

Meg Brandt and Sinclaire Miramontez were selected to the U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team Camp in May of 2018

Since 2016, seven current or former Husker soccer players have been called into USA U19, U20 or U23 National team training camps. Jaycie Johnson, Caroline Flynn, Sydney Miramontez and Haley Hanson are the former Huskers receiving National team invites while Sinclaire Miramontez, Aubrei Corder and Meg Brandt are the current Huskers receiving National team invites.

In April 2018, Haley Hanson was called into the USA Womens National team and received her 1st cap in a nationally televised game vs Mexico.

Huskers in the NWSL

National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) began its inaugural season in 2013. Former Husker Karina LeBlanc helped lead the Chicago Red Stars as one of the top goalkeepers in the NWSL before her retirement in 2015.

2018 First-Round Pick Haley Hanson

Haley Hanson was taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NWSL Draft by the Houston Dash. After her senior season in 2017 Hanson also attended a pair of U.S. Under-23 National Team Training Camps

Hanson is the most recent Husker to be drafted by the Dash. Ari Romero and Jordan Jackson, who each contributed to Nebraska’s 2013 Big Ten championship team, were drafted by the Houston Dash in 2014.

Sydney Miramontez plays for the Utah Royals

Sydney Miramontez was signed by FC Kansas City in 2017 and now plays for Utah Royals FC. Jaycie Johnson and Caroline Flynn were each drafted in 2017. Johnson was selected 27th overall by the North Carolina Courage, and Flynn was taken 40th overall by the Portland Thorns FC.

Jordan Jackson was drafted by the Houston Dash in 2014

2020 NWSL Draft

Nebraska was one of eight schools to have multiple selections in the 2020 draft, as Sinclaire Miramontez was picked 27th overall by the North Carolina Courage and Meg Brandt was taken 34th overall by Reign FC. Neb

What the Players Say about Nebraska...

“In my experience, the Nebraska Soccer Program is second-to-none when it comes to player development. During my four years as a Husker I was submerged in an environment where my tactical understanding was challenged, and my technical development was prioritized. I am positive that there is no other program in the country that takes such pride in individual player development. The coaching staff goes above and beyond to instill this culture, and their process-driven philosophy has enriched my game more than I could have ever imagined. Every year, every season, every day I was pushed to refine my game and become the best player I could possibly be, and because of that I was propelled into a professional soccer career. By taking advantage of everything Nebraska Soccer had to offer, I was able to go above and beyond what I thought was possible.” - Haley Hanson (Houston Dash/USA National Team)

"The player development emphasis of the Nebraska soccer program played a pivotal role in my growth as a soccer player. The time and resources invested in my development allowed me to make incredible strides in fitness, technical ability, and overall knowledge of the game. The attention placed on the detail and mastery of these skills by my coaches transformed the way I viewed the game and later gave me the opportunity to achieve my lifelong dream of playing professionally. The Nebraska Soccer program continues to build a strong foundation around the importance of player development, which has proven to give players the confidence and experience to reach their highest potential in anything they do." - Sydney Miramontez (Utah Royals/US U23 National Team)

"Nebraska's player development emphasis has played a huge role in my soccer career. It allowed me to become one of the top forwards in the nation during my time playing under Coach Walker and staff, allowed me to be called into multiple National team camps and gave me the opportunity to continue playing soccer professionally. This program allows you to find your weaknesses and turn them into strengths, to let you understand all the little details and mechanics that go into perfecting the right technique. It gives you the opportunity to fully grow as a well rounded player in all aspects of the game. I would not be half the player I am today if it was not for Nebraska Soccer's player development program and the help from the coaching staff." - Jaycie Johnson (Seattle Reign/US U 23 National Team)

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Dick and Peg Herman Family Student Life Complex

Tour the Herman Student Life Complex

The athletic academic unit, located in the Dick and Peg Herman Family Student Life Complex, provides personal and academic support to ensure that student-athletes will get the most out of their years as Huskers. Featuring one of the most innovative and comprehensive academic support systems in the country, Nebraska is dedicated to helping its student-athletes become outstanding leaders in their chosen fields.

National-Leading 347 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

Nebraska Athletics leads the nation with a 347 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, with Stanford ranking second with 274.

Top Ten Award Winners

Nebraska student-athletes have won more NCAA Top Ten Awards than any other school in the country. Regarded as the nation's most prestigious academic award, Nebraska has had 18 recipients - including Anton Stephenson in 2018. The award honors male and female student-athletes throughout the country based upon the criteria of athletic achievement, academic achievement and community involvement.

94% Graduation Success Rate

Nebraska student-athletes continue to be among the nation’s best in the classroom. The NCAA released its Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in November 2020 and Nebraska posted its highest overall GSR for the eighth straight year.

STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE

Free MacBook Air

Every student-athlete is provided a MacBook Air while they are a student at Nebraska.

Student-Athlete Assistance Fund

Up to $1,400 a year to help with bills, bike, cell phone, furniture, etc.

Travel

The Lincoln airport has service from both Delta and United. The Omaha Airport is less than an hour away and includes flights from Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, OneJet, Southwest and United.

Performance Nutrition

“Raise the bar, raise the standard and make this a habit and ultimately it’ll serve them their whole life.” – Director of Performance Nutrition Dave Ellis
  • 1,600 meals served daily to Nebraska student-athletes and staff members
  • Individualized Meal Plans/ Menus
  • Body Composition Testing
  • Competition Fueling
  • Supplement Education
  • High-Quality, Performance-Based Foods
  • The Landing- established in 2005
  • Oasis- established in 2011
  • Before, During, and After Workout Fueling Plan
  • Student nutrition volunteers assist in managing both areas
  • Prepare specialized nutritional shakes and recovery drinks for all student-athletes
  • Life Skills Kitchen- offers student- athletes to learn and prepare nutritious meals themselves

Refueling at "The Landing"

The Landing, established in 2005, and the Oasis, established in 2011, serve as fueling points for all athletes before, during, and after training. The Landing is located in North Stadium while the Oasis is housed in the Hendricks Training Complex. Both areas provide a number of different options including chocolate milk, recovery shakes, energy bars, bagels, fruits, nuts, and Gatorade for student athletes.

Husker Bucks

Available to all student-athletes on an active roster. App that gives the student-athlete $10 per day on Saturdays and Sundays to eat at select restaurants in downtown Lincoln, including:

  • Blaze Pizza
  • Chipotle
  • Fuzzy's Taco Shop
  • Grey Whale Poke Bowl
  • Jersey Mike's Subs
  • Jimmy John's
  • Noodles and Company
  • Rusty Taco
  • Smoothie King
  • Source. Eat Fit.
  • Subway
  • Which Wich

Athletic Medicine

Providing expert care to more than 600 Husker student-athletes, Nebraska features one of the most well-trained and highly skilled athletic medicine staffs in the country.

Under the guidance of Director of Athletic Medicine Dr. Lonnie Albers, Head Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist Jerry Weber, the Nebraska athletic medicine staff consists of five physicians, 14 full-time athletic trainers, eight graduate assistant athletic trainers, four full-time in-house athletic psychologists, one full-time neuropsychologist and sports psychiatry consultants who work directly with student-athletes.

Service to a Much Larger Community

Regarded as the premier and most comprehensive Life Skills program in college athletics, the Husker program is committed to providing proactive education, resources and support through college and beyond to promote total person development and preparation for life after sports.

The Nebraska Life Skills program offered its fifth service trip in 2019, taking student-athletes to Alaska. Student-athletes have also traveled to Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

Post-Eligibility Opportunities

Mission Statement: Provide unmatched educational experiences to recent letterwinner graduates, increasing their marketability, personal development and intellectual growth.

Program Summary: PEO provides letterwinner alumni a one-semester scholarship, valued up to $7,500, to apply toward an internship, study abroad experience or graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Eligible letterwinner alumni, who fulfill all program requirements, will have up to three years from the time of graduation or exhaustion of eligibility, whichever occurs latest, to participate in this program.

The NAPL

Click here to take a tour of the NAPL

The future of athletic performance is here. The Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory utilizes a multi-method, multi-disciplinary approach to athlete performance and health through technology and academic expertise. Through collaborative expertise, the Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory strives to bring the best to the student-athletes of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In 2013, a 50,000-square-foot expansion of Nebraska's East Memorial Stadium brought together athletic and academic researchers in Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory (NAPL) under one roof to study human behavior and performance. The partnership is believed to be the nation's only joint, on campus athletic and academic research facility. The collaboration is a testament to Nebraska's commitment to student-athlete's performance, safety, and long-term health and well-being housed within East Memorial Stadium, allowing optimal accessibility for student-athletes, researchers, and coaching staffs.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

With an enrollment of over 25,000 students, the University of Nebraska has students from over 135 countries and 149 undergraduate majors. More information can be found here.

UNL National Rankings

  • Top 50 National Universities (U.S. News & World Report)
  • Among Top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges (Kiplinger’s Personal Finance)
  • No. 2 Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans (U.S. News & World Report)
  • No. 2 Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans (U.S. News & World Report)
  • No. 6 Best Online MBA Programs (U.S. News & World Report)
  • No. 11 Best Online Graduate Education Programs (U.S. News & World Report)
  • No. 17 Speech-Language Pathology Grad Schools (U.S. News & World Report)
  • No. 20 Best College for Veterans (U.S. News & World Report)

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

An All-American City

One of the nation’s largest 75 cities, Lincoln features many of the benefits of an urban setting and is only minutes away from the scenic beauty and wide open spaces of America’s Heartland. The third-largest city in the Big Ten, Lincoln enables Nebraska student-athletes to enjoy the benefits of city life while residing in a community which is widely regarded as one of the top places to live in the United States.

THE CUBE is located in the Railyard and is a public space that shows sporting events, movies and more.

Pinnacle Bank Arena

Home to Nebraska men's and women's basketball, Pinnacle Bank Arena is Lincoln's downtown arena located in the Railyard. Since opening in 2013 the arena has played host to artists such as...

  • Jay-Z
  • Katy Perry
  • P!nk
  • Justin Bieber
  • Carrie Underwood
  • Eric Church
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Chris Brown
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Kenny Chesney
  • Paul McCartney
  • Blake Shelton
  • Zac Brown Band
  • Da Baby
  • Pearl Jam
  • Keith Urban
  • Lil' Wayne
  • Jason Aldean
  • Bon Jovi
  • Elton John
  • Miranda Lambert & Deirks Bentley
  • And many more...
Eric Church has played PBA twice. Church's 2017 Holdin' My Own Tour opened in Lincoln
Katy Perry's Prismatic World Tour stopped in Lincoln
Jay-Z made his first stop in Lincoln in 2013 and returned in December of 2017 as part of his 4:44 Tour

Credits:

Nebraska Communications