Former NU Athletic Director Bill Moos opens up about his time at Nebraska in new memoir

Bill Moos speaks with KETV about his new memoir and everything Nebraska during his time as AD

Read the full article on KETV 7

A new memoir from a former Nebraska athletic director is sparking a lot of buzz among Husker fans. In the book, Bill Moos details his whole life and career as an athletic director.In the two chapters on his time in Nebraska, Moos tells all, the good and the bad. KETV NewsWatch 7’s Eddie Messel talked with Moos Thursday.Bill Moos’ relationship with Nebraska started out with excitement, according to his new book “The Crab Creek Chronicles.” The excitement quickly changed to confusion about who was in charge. Moos said it started around the time Scott Frost became a candidate for Nebraska football head coach.”It’s important people know, I’m not after anybody, I’m not trying to get even with anything, I’m just telling my story,” Moos said.Moos details how he considered former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly for the opening. But he says he was met with “blank stares and total lack of excitement” when telling his superiors.”Every place I’d been before, you know, everyone answers to somebody, but I always knew who I was answering to, and at Nebraska I didn’t,” Moos said.Moos also reflects on his first meeting with Frost in Philadelphia. That ended with Moos’ wife saying the former Husker player was “not ready.” Moos agreed, but says if he didn’t pursue Frost with everything he’s got and he ends up at Tennessee or Florida, he’s “screwed.””It’s a beautiful story, and I think if it had been a different point in his career, it would have been better than it was as it turned out,” Moos said.Moos recalls a rocky relationship with then NU president Hank Bounds and Chancellor Ronnie Green. Moos says he felt they were trying to force him out, at one point even putting him on a 90-day cure period.”Having, in my opinion, too many chefs in the kitchen and it created a lot of difficult times to really get the program back on track,” Moos said.The confusion on the power structure continued through Moos’ tenure. During another hiring, this time for men’s basketball, Moos met with Green and Gov. Jim Pillen, who was a regent at the time. Moos believed they could attract Oregon head coach Dana Altman.Pillen’s response, according to the book, was “no.””In the end of would have likely hired Fred, as I say in my book, but not to allow me to have an opportunity to just have a conversation or inquire if Altman was at all interested in the position that was startling to me,” Moos said.Pillen responded on social media with a picture of this year’s final score of the Oregon-Nebraska game.”I’m as proud of that scoreboard as anybody, because I was the one that hired Fred Hoiberg, maybe Jim forgets that,” Moos said.Moos told KETV he doesn’t have a lot of regrets from his time at Nebraska, except for wishing there was a clearer picture of the chain of command. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

LINCOLN, Neb. —

A new memoir from a former Nebraska athletic director is sparking a lot of buzz among Husker fans. In the book, Bill Moos details his whole life and career as an athletic director.

In the two chapters on his time in Nebraska, Moos tells all, the good and the bad. KETV NewsWatch 7’s Eddie Messel talked with Moos Thursday.

Bill Moos’ relationship with Nebraska started out with excitement, according to his new book “The Crab Creek Chronicles.” The excitement quickly changed to confusion about who was in charge. Moos said it started around the time Scott Frost became a candidate for Nebraska football head coach.

“It’s important people know, I’m not after anybody, I’m not trying to get even with anything, I’m just telling my story,” Moos said.

Moos details how he considered former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly for the opening. But he says he was met with “blank stares and total lack of excitement” when telling his superiors.

“Every place I’d been before, you know, everyone answers to somebody, but I always knew who I was answering to, and at Nebraska I didn’t,” Moos said.

Moos also reflects on his first meeting with Frost in Philadelphia. That ended with Moos’ wife saying the former Husker player was “not ready.” Moos agreed, but says if he didn’t pursue Frost with everything he’s got and he ends up at Tennessee or Florida, he’s “screwed.”

“It’s a beautiful story, and I think if it had been a different point in his career, it would have been better than it was as it turned out,” Moos said.

Moos recalls a rocky relationship with then NU president Hank Bounds and Chancellor Ronnie Green. Moos says he felt they were trying to force him out, at one point even putting him on a 90-day cure period.

“Having, in my opinion, too many chefs in the kitchen and it created a lot of difficult times to really get the program back on track,” Moos said.

The confusion on the power structure continued through Moos’ tenure. During another hiring, this time for men’s basketball, Moos met with Green and Gov. Jim Pillen, who was a regent at the time. Moos believed they could attract Oregon head coach Dana Altman.

Pillen’s response, according to the book, was “no.”

“In the end of would have likely hired Fred, as I say in my book, but not to allow me to have an opportunity to just have a conversation or inquire if Altman was at all interested in the position that was startling to me,” Moos said.

Pillen responded on social media with a picture of this year’s final score of the Oregon-Nebraska game.

“I’m as proud of that scoreboard as anybody, because I was the one that hired Fred Hoiberg, maybe Jim forgets that,” Moos said.

Moos told KETV he doesn’t have a lot of regrets from his time at Nebraska, except for wishing there was a clearer picture of the chain of command.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.