Wednesday morning got off to a shocking start for Husky Nation when Pete Thamel tweeted that Troy Dannen was leaving Washington to take the AD job at Nebraska. While this came out of left field to most people, many close to the program not only saw this as a possibility, but one that might have been for the best of both parties.
Sources: Nebraska is finalizing a six-year deal to make Washington athletic director Troy Dannen the school’s new athletic director. The hiring of Dannen gives Nebraska an immediate replacement for Trev Alberts, who left for Texas A&M last week. pic.twitter.com/q9SRkTK7hk
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 20, 2024
According to people close to the program there was a disconnect between Dannen and some in the athletic department and his brash style rubbed many people the wrong way. Also, Dave “Softy” Mahler discussed on his radio show a thin skinned mentality in which Dannen was upset with some of the messaging coming from his radio show and tried to get them kicked out of the recruiting lounge the day Jedd Fisch was hired.
On top of those issues at his new job, the biggest was family. After almost six months his family had still not made the move out to Seattle.
The decision to hire Dannen will go down as a mistake in the history of the institution, but the swift departure gives Washington a second chance at getting this hire right.
Trevor Mueller and Coach V discuss the departure and what Washington must do in their second AD search in a calendar year.
