top of page
Husker-Power-Camps-logo
Join the Team

The Husker Power Tradition: How Nebraska Built Athletes, and How We Measure Progress

Writer: Jon Pfeifer
Jon Pfeifer
Oct 7
2 min read

Updated: Nov 2

Youth athlete performing a weighted split squat in front of the Husker Power principles plaque at Husker Power Camps

In 1969, Nebraska football coach Bob Devaney hired Boyd Epley as the first full-time strength and conditioning coach in college football. What he built became known as Husker Power, and it changed how athletes everywhere train.


Before Husker Power, many coaches believed lifting weights made athletes slow and stiff. Epley proved the opposite. Nebraska athletes got bigger, faster and more durable, and the program became a model for colleges across the country. In 1978, Epley brought 76 strength coaches together in Lincoln, and that meeting led to the founding of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) — the organization that now certifies strength coaches nationwide.


Measuring what matters: the Performance Index

One of Husker Power's biggest ideas was simple: measure progress. The Husker Power Performance Index scores athletes on a few key tests — a standing vertical jump, a pro-agility run and a 10-yard dash — and adds a sport-specific test for some teams. Each test is scored from 0 to 1,000 points against the highest standards, so athletes and coaches can see exactly where they stand and how much they've improved. Nebraska athletes test regularly and set goals based on their scores.


What that means for your child

We bring the same principle to Husker Power Camps, scaled for young athletes:

• Every camper is tested in the first week and the last week of each 8-week camp.

• Tests fit each age group.

• You get a simple progress report, so you can see your child's growth — not just hear about it.

• We compare each child to themselves, not to college athletes. The goal is steady, measurable progress and confidence that carries into every sport.


The tradition continues

Husker Power has helped make Nebraska Athletics what it is today. Husker Power Camps exists to share that tradition with the young athletes of our state — building them from the ground up, one measured step at a time.


More free resources

From Nebraska S&C — free resources for families (links only):

• For the curious parent — https://www.nebraskasc.com/


Comments

bottom of page