Mike Kemp has said it countless time over the years: He didn’t come to Omaha to start a hockey team. He came to build a hockey program.
Kemp became the program’s first hockey coach on July 1, 1996, and 30 years later, ‘Kemper’ is still synonymous with Omaha hockey.
His resume is full of accolades, and he’s worn seemingly every possible hat in Omaha’s athletic department, whether that be coaching, working in administration or managing facilities.
Kemp spent 12 seasons behind the Omaha bench (1997-2009) and 48 total years in college athletics. Although he retired in May of 2024, he’s still a familiar face around Baxter Arena.
“I’ve been very blessed,” Kemp told Hurrdat Sports. “This is my 30th year at UNO and to have a recognition such as (the Hall of Fame) is very, very special.”
Kemp was already a member of the Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame (2009) and Omaha Sports Hall of Fame (2013). However, the 73-year-old added yet another this past weekend, as Kemp officially entered the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame.
Jake Guentzel (waving to the crowd), Mike Kemp, Chris Cooper and Anastasia Kyvelidou make up the 2026 Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame class. They were honored during the Omaha hockey game on Nov. 6, 2026. Photo by Eli Larson.
Kemp stood at center ice Friday night alongside Jake Guentzel, Chris Cooper and Anastasia Kyvelidou — the four members of the 2026 class. Kemp’s wife, Julie, and plenty of family and friends were in the house, too, and a UNO Alumni Association brunch followed on Saturday.
The Baxter Arena ice is named after the program’s first coach, and Kemp’s fingerprints are still visible across Omaha’s program.
It would’ve been hard to imagine still being here 30 years ago, but he’s cherished every part of the journey.
“When you come from someplace else like I did from the University of Wisconsin, and you’re a young coach, you don’t think about where you’re going to be 30 years in the future,” Kemp said. “You think I’m going to be here a couple years, five years, and then I’m on to the next thing. It just so happened that this was the perfect fit for me.”
Perfect fit may be an understatement, and it’s why he still calls Omaha home.
Many of his former players do, too.
“Coach Kemp gave all of us the opportunity to come to Omaha, and he’s such a significant impact on our lives, personally and professionally,” said former Omaha forward David Brisson. “The biggest thing with Kemper is he was such a preacher to get involved in the community. Sometimes as an athlete, you’re so focused on performing and you lose track of the bigger picture, but Coach Kemp wanted this program to be something bigger. He wanted us to teach and give back, and connect with the fans, and that’s one of the foundations of this program.
“You maybe don’t realize it at the time, but he sold the 20-year vision to us as recruits. He told us if you build roots here and immerse yourself in the community, the community will embrace you, and that’s been the case. So, it’s no surprise that so many of us (former players) are still here in town, and it’s truly special what he was able to build.”
Brisson (2010) is one of the six hockey players in the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame. He’s joined by Scott Parse (2016), Bryan Marshall (2018), Greg Zanon (2023), Dan Ellis (2024) and Guentzel (2026).
They were all glad to see Kemp receive his flowers this weekend.
“He’s kind of the face of the program and the godfather of it all,” Ellis said. “The first couple years he helped get it off the ground and was the pioneer of the program. He brought the knowledge, experience and passion from Wisconsin, and honestly, he helped put Omaha hockey on the map. So he’s poured his heart and soul into it over the years, and I know for me personally, I had three years in Omaha that I truly enjoyed.
“I can honestly say I don’t think I would’ve had most of the opportunities I’ve had in life if it wasn’t for Coach Kemp. He believed in all of us and to this day he treats us like family and like one of his own sons. So it’s great to see him recognized and he represents Omaha hockey so well.”
“Coach Kemp built something special at UNO,” added Parse. “He set high expectations, pushed us to be better, and created a culture that made you proud to wear a Maverick jersey. He cared about developing good hockey players, but just as importantly, good people.
“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to play for Coach Kemp and be a part of what he built at UNO. It’s a well-deserved honor and I’m proud I got to play for him.”
Mike Kemp waving at the crowd during the ice-naming ceremony before the match against Wisconsin Saturday, October 5, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. Photo by Kyle Byers.
Those former players staying in Omaha and giving back to the community are near the top of Kemp’s list when asked what he’s proudest of.
The coach used to tell his players, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’ and he wanted to establish a culture in the early years. The on-ice success certainly helped, and the program has continued to evolve over the years.
“Coach Kemp will always hold a special place in my life and in the history of Omaha Hockey, and I was fortunate to play for him for four years,” said current Omaha head coach Mike Gabinet. “He built this program from the ground up and laid the foundation for everything UNO has become. But what makes this recognition even more special to me is that our relationship has continued to today.
“I consider Coach Kemp a mentor and a friend, and I have always valued our conversations, his perspective and his guidance. So I’m incredibly happy to see Coach Kemp receive the recognition and I can’t think of anymore more deserving of the honor.”
So many people echo that final sentiment, and Kemp doesn’t take the honor lightly.
There’s no doubt Kemp is proud to be a Maverick, and when you give so much of your life to something, you must value it.
Kemp quipped he will always be a part of the program until the day he dies, and he’s forever grateful for the decision he made in the summer of 1996.
“What would be better than to be able to start a program from scratch and see it through to the completion, and it’s an opportunity that so few people ever have,” Kemp said. “So for me, it was that thrill, that excitement and that chance to put your name on something and make sure that every brush stroke of your picture was yours.”
Thirty years later, Kemp’s brush strokes are still present all over Maverick hockey, and that painting has earned him a spot in the Omaha Athletics Hall of Fame.
