Long-Time Nebraska Omaha Coach Todd Samland Resigns
University of Nebraska Omaha coach Todd Samland announced his resignation Tuesday after 25 years at the helm.
Samland’s resignation is effective immediately. Assistant coach Jessica Hessel will take over the men’s and women’s programs on an interim basis.
Samland led the Mavericks women’s team since its inception in 1997. When the university added men’s swimming in 2020, he became the director of coaching for both teams.
“I want to express my gratitude to the athletic department for the support of our program over the past 24 years,” Samland said in a university release. “I would like to especially thank (former athletic director) Connie Claussen for hiring me and believing in me. What I have enjoyed most is the people I have met through coaching – athletes, staff, and coaches. The athletes I have coached over the years, and their families, have truly been a blessing in my life and I cherish the relationships that have been formed over the years and look forward to staying connected to many of them. Now it is time to take a step in another direction, my family and I are looking forward to our next chapter as I dive into the private sector for my next career.”
Samland has coached five NCAA Division II national champions, transitioning the women’s team to Division I in 2011. The Mavericks finished as high as fifth (in 2005-06) at the Division II Championships.
In Division I, Samland was a two-time Summit League Coach of the Year, leading the women to a runner-up finish in 2007-18.
“Coach Samland is synonymous with swimming and diving in the Omaha community, and our programs performed at a high level under his leadership,” vice chancellor/director of athletics Adrian Dowell said. “On behalf of Omaha Athletics and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I want to thank Coach Samland for his dedication to swimming and diving at Omaha, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Samland graduated from UNO in 1984 and received a master’s degree there in 1987. He coached Maverick Masters Swimming Program, recognized in 1994 as the United States Masters Swimming Coach of the Year.
Hessel has spent seven seasons in Omaha as a coach, five as an assistant and recruiting coordinator before being elevated to associate head coach in July 2020. She was a four-year letterwinner at Omaha under Samland from 2004-08.
I heard that place has been a dumpster fire the last two years.