Washington Athletics AD Troy Dannen
At 3:50 p.m. on Friday — just two days after leaving Washington to take up the same position at Nebraska — Troy Dannen, the former Husky athletic director, will be watching his new school play in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
On Thursday, Dannen was seen at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., where the No. 8-seeded Nebraska team was preparing for its tournament game against No. 9 Texas A&M. He engaged in conversations with reporters and Cornhuskers coach Fred Hoiberg, shared jokes, and enjoyed the positive atmosphere, typical of any athletic director in his role.
Dannen even hinted that he might return to the Pacific Northwest soon. Meanwhile, the Nebraska women’s basketball team, seeded No. 6 this year, was gearing up to face No. 11 Texas A&M at the Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore., on Friday. A victory for the Cornhuskers would set up a second-round match against either No. 3 Oregon State or No. 14 Eastern Washington.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dannen expressed his excitement about the opportunity at Nebraska and praised the strength of the program. However, just 36 hours earlier, it would have seemed unlikely for Dannen to be at FedExForum, especially considering Washington’s basketball teams didn’t have successful seasons.
Dannen officially resigned on Wednesday morning after only 165 days in his role as Washington’s athletic director, marking the shortest tenure for a Husky athletic director in a century. He shared a statement on social media Thursday morning, expressing regret that his time at Washington was brief but thanking everyone for their support.
While Dannen focused on Nebraska’s future during his conversations with reporters, he did reflect on his short tenure at Washington, acknowledging that unexpected opportunities sometimes arise in life.
As Washington deals with the aftermath of Dannen’s departure, including the search for a new men’s basketball coach, Dannen has moved on to his new challenges at Nebraska. Despite the changes, he remains excited to oversee a program close to his roots in Iowa, reflecting on the journey with appreciation and nostalgia.
