81 all-conference selections
With a proven system, an innovative coaching
philosophy, a well-respected program and an ability
to recruit some of the nation’s most talented players,
Walker has the Huskers focused on contending
for conference and national championships on an
annual basis.
In 1998, Nebraska overcame the loss of five senior
starters, including All-Americans Kari Uppinghouse
and Rebecca Hornbacher, to finish with a 17-4-1
record and claim a second Big 12 Conference
Tournament title. The Huskers advanced to the
NCAA Sweet 16 and finished with a final No. 10
national ranking.
Nebraska’s 1998 success followed on the heels of
an 18-4-0 season in which the Huskers advanced to
the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament before losing
at Notre Dame. The Huskers ended the 1997 season
ranked No. 7 in the final NSCAA Poll.
Building from the Beginning
Walker and the Huskers built their success on a
breakthrough season in 1996.
Not only did Nebraska earn its first trip to the
NCAA Tournament, the Huskers placed themselves
among the nation’s elite by winning two tournament
games and advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Along the way, Walker established himself as
one of the finest coaches in America, earning
NSCAA/Umbro National Coach-of-the-Year, NSCAA/
Umbro Central Region Coach-of-the-Year and Big 12
Conference Coach-of-the-Year recognition.
Walker led the Huskers to a perfect regular season
with a 19-0 record and the first regular-season Big
12 title. Nebraska extended its winning streak to 21
games with two more wins at the Big 12 Conference
Soccer Championships in St. Louis to capture a
second conference crown.
The Huskers entered the NCAA Tournament
with the nation’s longest winning streak as the only
unbeaten and untied team in the country.
But Nebraska’s perfect ride through the 1996
regular season did more than just put wins in the
record books, it put fans in the stands, establishing
a devoted following of Husker faithful.
Nebraska finished the season with the sixthhighest average attendance in the nation, and
based on its unblemished record and outstanding
fan support, earned a home bid in the first round of
the NCAA Tournament.
After a perfect regular season, Walker and the
Huskers were not satisfied with just making it to the
NCAA Tournament. They set their sights on a trip to
soccer’s semifinals in Santa Clara, Calif.
Nebraska proved it was a contender with a 3-2
overtime win over Minnesota in the opening round
in front of a then-school-record crowd of 1,544. The
win over the Golden Gophers set up a second-round
rematch with Duke at the Abbott Sports Complex.
The Huskers had come from behind to defeat
the then-No. 6 Blue Devils, 3-1, in Durham, N.C., on
Sept. 8, for Nebraska’s first-ever win over a ranked
opponent. Although Duke came to Lincoln with a
rich soccer tradition and plenty of NCAA Tournament
experience, the Huskers dominated the Blue Devils
from start to finish in a 3-0 win.
With the victory, the Huskers earned a trip to
Oregon to challenge perennial power Portland.
Although the Huskers battled until the end, they
could not manage a goal, losing 1-0 to the Pilots.
The Huskers finished the 1996 season with a 23-1-0
18 all-americans
Coaches & Staff
165 academic all-conference honorees
record and a final No. 6 national ranking.
Success Beyond Nebraska
Walker’s Nebraska program has also proven
that it can produce All-America players. In just 20
years, 12 Huskers have earned a total of 18 NSCAA
All-America certificates from the National Soccer
Coaches Association of America and five Huskers
have captured freshman All-America accolades
under Walker.
Walker also has helped Husker players compete
at the international level. Over the past several
seasons, Nebraska has boasted 26 players with
national team experience, including Jaycie Johnson
and Jordan Jackson (USA), Ari Romero (Mexico) and
current Husker Katie Kraeutner (Canada).
Former NU athletes have seen success at the
professional leve