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ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION 115
Introduced by McKinney, 11.
WHEREAS, the career of University of Nebraska at Omaha and Maryville University wrestling coach Mike Denney spans over fifty years; and WHEREAS, Coach Denney rose through the ranks to become one of the greatest wrestling coaches in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a multiple national champion, and one of the most prominent figures in the history of the sport; and WHEREAS, Coach Denney began his remarkable collegiate coaching tenure in
the 1979-80 season and has compiled a 386-164-5 dual record; and WHEREAS, Coach Denney coached seven NCAA Championship teams and is a three-time NCAA Division II National Wrestling Coach of the Year from 1981,
1991, and 2009; and WHEREAS, Coach Denney directed the University of Nebraska at Omaha wrestling team for thirty-two years and won three consecutive NCAA Division II
National Championships and six of the last eight championships before the university eliminated the wrestling program on March 12, 2011, after sixty-
three years of competition; and WHEREAS, Coach Denney was voted 2011 InterMat Coach of the Year, which recognizes the top college wrestling coaches across all NCAA divisions and claimed seven national titles in 1991, 2004 through 2006, and 2009 through
2011; and WHEREAS, the University of Nebraska at Omaha finished in the NCAA Division II top-ten ranked teams for all but one season during Coach Denney's tenure;
and WHEREAS, Coach Denney was named the inaugural head coach for Maryville University on June 1, 2011; and
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WHEREAS, during his tenure at Maryville University, Coach Denney coached two NCAA Division II National Champions, Matt Baker and Nate Rodriguez, led Maryville to be ranked the number one team in the nation many times over,
spearheaded Maryville to a pair of third-place finishes in the Division II
national championships in 2014 and 2015 and a pair of Super Regional titles in
2015 and 2016, won four consecutive National Wrestling Coaches Association Team Academic National Championships from 2017-18 through 2020-21, and directed Maryville's efforts as the host institution for three NCAA Division II
Wrestling National Championships; and WHEREAS, Coach Denney coached two hundred ninety-four NCAA Nationals qualifiers, two hundred seven All-Americans, and thirty-five national champions; and WHEREAS, Coach Denney announced his retirement from coaching on April 12,
2023.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA, FIRST SESSION:
1. That the Legislature congratulates former University of Nebraska at
Omaha and Maryville University wrestling coach Mike Denney on his retirement after a long outstanding career of success, excellence, character, and commitment to the education of such student-athletes.
2. That a copy of this resolution be sent to Mike Denney.
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