UNL Fires Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst

Sept. 21, 2017, 1:35 a.m. ·

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UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green announcing the firing of Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst (photo by Grant Gerlock, Nebraska Public Media News)

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The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has fired Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst, effective immediately. A search has been started for his replacement and an interim athletic director could be named soon.


Shawn Eichorst (UNL Athletics photo)


Sportscaster Kevin Kugler, host of NET's "Big Red Wrap-Up," on the Eichorst firing

"I think as the season started to unfold we certainly saw the possibility of this coming more into focus. It was a season that had a lot of expectation and a lot of hope on it, and it's obviously started rocky for Nebraska football, and for Shawn Eichorst unfortunately the start that Nebraska football had really spelled the end of his time at Nebraska."

"I really think that the reasons for this are multiple, but the main one is football. Let's be honest; football is the front porch of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. And if Nebraska football is not good, and it has not been good at any high level consistently for a good long time, and I say good from the standpoint of competing for and winning conference championships, and going and playing for a national championship every once in a while, that's the expectation, fair or not. And if you're not going to live up to that expectation it becomes very difficult for you, and Shawn Eichorst is just the latest to find out that that's a hard reality when it comes to Nebraska athletics."

Editor's Note: Listen to our entire interview with Kevin Kugler by clicking on the audio icon above on this page.

“Shawn has led Nebraska Athletics in many positive ways, but those efforts have not translated into on-field performance,” Chancellor Ronnie Green said in a news release. “Our fans and our student-athletes deserve leadership that drives the highest levels of competitiveness, as well as excellence across all facets of Husker Athletics. I want to sincerely thank Shawn for his dedication to and care for our student-athletes, and for his commitment to their success here at Nebraska, and in life. He has positively influenced countless lives at this university, and I wish him and his family the very best going forward.”

“Winning can and often does happen in concert with well-run, quality college programs that work to ensure the success of the student,” Green said. “That’s our expectation. We take pride here in doing things right and doing the right thing, and that won’t change. This is not an either-or equation. We can and should win in that kind of environment.”

In a statement Eichorst said, “While I am deeply disappointed in the decision today, I am grateful for the wonderful years that my family and I have spent at Nebraska. I am proud of how our student-athletes, coaches and staff represented this great university and state, and I am confident that the future is bright for Nebraska Athletics.”

According to the news release, "the search for a new director of athletics began today. The university expects to appoint an interim athletic director to oversee day-to-day operations of Nebraska Athletics until a new, permanent director of athletics begins."

Eichorst became director of athletics in October 2012, and has about $1.7 million remaining on a contract that runs through June 2019.