Louisville Names Head Volleyball Coaching Position in Honor of Dan Durbin
July 14, 2025 | Women's Volleyball
Gift from Mary and Ted Nixon to Honor Durbin’s Legacy and Support Continued Excellence in Louisville Volleyball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville Athletic Department announced that the head coaching position for its nationally renowned volleyball program will now be known as the Dan and Maria Durbin Head Volleyball Coach, in recognition of the life and legacy of Dan Durbin and his years of distinguished service at Louisville.
This historic naming is made possible by a generous $500,000 gift from longtime UofL supporters Mary and Ted Nixon, to be given over five years beginning July 1, 2025. All funds from the gift will go directly toward supporting the Louisville Volleyball program. With a goal of reaching $1,000,000 in total support, the Nixons have also committed to helping the Cardinal Athletic Fund raise the remaining $500,000 for the position.
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"We are honored to celebrate Dan Durbin's legacy with this naming," said Josh Heird, Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Dan's impact on our university—from his leadership to his unshakable integrity—continues to resonate throughout our athletic department and beyond. We are deeply grateful to Mary and Ted Nixon for their commitment to elevating our volleyball program and helping us honor such an important member of the Cardinal family."
Durbin served at Louisville with distinction across numerous leadership roles, including President for Health Affairs and Chief Financial Officer at Louisville Health Sciences Center and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration. Durbin guided the institution through major challenges while designing and implementing a new budget model that supported increased enrollment and financial stability.
In recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedication to academic excellence, Durbin was awarded a Doctor of Public Service degree, with honors, from Louisville in May of 2025.
"I'm incredibly honored to be the first to carry the title of Dan and Maria Durbin Head Volleyball Coach," said Dan Meske, UofL's head volleyball coach. "Dan Durbin lived a life of servant leadership and unwavering support for our university. To have our position tied to his name is both humbling and inspiring. This generous gift from the Nixon's ensures that we can continue building a championship-caliber program in a way that reflects Dan's values and legacy."
Meske was named UofL's head coach on January, 31, 2025, replacing Dani Busboom Kelly, who left for the head coaching position at Nebraska.
Meske became the eighth head coach in the program's history and brings more than 16 years of collegiate coaching experience to the head coaching position at Louisville.
The Cardinals have become one of the premier teams in collegiate athletics, with three NCAA Final Four appearances and two in the national title game. The Cards made a historic run before falling to Penn State in the 2024 National Championship at the KFC YUM! Center in December.
