Husker Athletic Director Troy Dannen Announced as Opening Keynote for Governor’s Summit
NEBRASKA, September 24 - CONTACT:
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Husker Athletic Director Troy Dannen Announced as Opening Keynote for Governor’s Summit
Dannen will speak in lieu of Ben Sasse, who is unable to attend.
LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced that Troy Dannen, athletic director for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be the opening keynote at the 2026 Governor’s Summit. Senator Ben Sasse, who was previously announced as the morning keynote, is recovering from a recent successful liver surgery and is unable to attend.
Troy Dannen joins Husker men’s basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg as a headline speaker for the Summit, which will take place Sept. 28-29 in Kearney. Dannen is scheduled to speak on Tuesday morning, Sept. 29.
“Troy Dannen has been a great fit to lead Husker athletics,” said Gov. Pillen. “His vision, leadership, and hustle have the Huskers on the fast track to where they belong—at the very pinnacle of collegiate sports. I look forward to hearing from Troy at this year’s Summit!”
A respected leader in collegiate athletics with deep Midwestern roots, Troy Dannen is in his third year as Nebraska’s Director of Athletics. Dannen guides Nebraska’s 25-sport athletic department that ranks among the nation’s most successful programs both athletically and academically.
Since his arrival to Nebraska in March of 2024, the Huskers have posted three straight top 25 finishes in the Learfield Director’s Cup, marking the first time Husker Athletics has accomplished that feat in more than two decades. The Huskers enjoyed broad-based success in 2025-26. The Husker men’s basketball program reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in school history, the Husker softball team reached the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2013, while the men’s and women’s outdoor track squads posted top 10 finishes in the same season for the first time since 2003.
Dannen came to the University of Nebraska following successful stints as athletic director at Washington, Tulane, and Northern Iowa. Prior to his career in collegiate athletics, Dannen served as the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s executive director for seven years, overseeing 400 high schools and 10 sports.
Dannen grew up on a farm in Iowa and graduated from University of Northern Iowa in 1989 with a degree in communications. He is married to Amy and has four children: Elizabeth, William, Emily and Holly.
The 2026 Governor’s Summit begins Monday afternoon, Sept. 28, with a statewide 6 Regions, One Nebraska update. On Monday evening, the Nebraska Diplomats will host a reception and awards banquet.
Tuesday, Sept. 29, is the primary day of the Governor’s Summit. It features remarks from Gov. Pillen, a morning keynote from Troy Dannen, a full slate of breakout sessions, and an afternoon address from Coach Fred Hoiberg. The second annual Youth Summit is also taking place on Tuesday, concurrent with the main Summit.
Register for the Governor’s Summit, and see an agenda for the event
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