Nebraska Nixes Nee

Danny Nee was fired as Nebraska's basketball coach Monday after his team's worst finish in 10 years.

Nee's termination is effective March 31. Athletic director Bill Byrne said the university will pay Nee about $400,000 to buy out the three years remaining on his contract.

"The best course for the University of Nebraska is to change coaches," Byrne said.

Sixteen days ago, Nee became Nebraska's winningest coach by one victory with a 254-189 record in 14 seasons, the longest career of any active Big 12 Conference basketball coach.

The Huskers, who failed to win a conference game on the road this season, lost to Baylor in the first round of the Big 12 tournament Thursday, finishing with an 11-19 record.

After that loss, Nee said on his final postgame radio show: "It's over."

Byrne said Nee's poor season was not lone reason for his dismissal.

"It's just not one season or one incident," said Byrne, who refused to specify what led to his decision. "It's an accumulation of things."

The oft-criticized Nee said throughout the season that he was not going to quit. A resignation would have cut him out of the hefty contract buyout.

Injuries and a roster full of newcomers didn't help Nee in his final season.

He made a late-season push to come back for next season by sending a letter to season-ticket holders pointing out the program's strong points during his career.

Nee guided the Huskers to 20 wins seven times. He led Nebraska to five NCAA tournament appearances along with six visits to the NIT.

But the Huskers never contended for regular-season conference titles in either the Big Eight or Big 12 when it expanded. Nebraska's best conference finish was in the 1990-91 season, when the Huskers went 26-8 overall and 9-5 in the Big Eight, finishing third in the league. It also was Nee's best season as coach.

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