Joe Kirby enters Nebraska Hall of Fame

David Harris, right, had the rare opportunity to coach Joe Kirby, left, in high school and at the University of Nebraska.
David Harris, right, had the rare opportunity to coach Joe Kirby, left, in high school and at the University of Nebraska.

Former Jefferson City High School cross country athlete Joe Kirby of California has found himself in the first-ever University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletics Hall of Fame. Kirby is one of 22 student-athletes to be enshrined this fall the weekend of the Husker's season-opener football game against BYU this weekend.

Kirby was a multiple All-America at Nebraska, leading the Huskers to an eighth-place NCAA finish in 1989, finishing in 13th individually.

In 1988, Kirby finished 34th overall at a national meet, 51st in 1987 and 149th in 1990. He is also the school record holder in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 13:51.35.

The steeplechase was another event Kirby excelled at. He has consecutive Big Eight titles in the event in 1989 and 1990, finishing in third place in the national meet in 1989.

But before becoming a highly rated high school recruit, Kirby was coached by current Nebraska head coach David Harris at Jefferson City. Harris led the Jays during Kirby's freshman, sophomore and junior seasons, then accepted a coaching gig at Nebraska.

That proved to be very beneficial for Nebraska in Kirby's recruitment.

After spending seven years as an assistant coach, Harris moved on to Emporia State. He served as head coach for 19 years before becoming Nebraska's head coach in 2012, taking over for Jay Dirksen who retired after 28 seasons. Dirksen was Kirby's coach when he ran for the Huskers.

Following in her father's foot steps, Lizzy Kirby now runs long distance for Nebraska after transferring from Missouri Southern. Sam Kirby is a member of the California High School football and baseball teams and is in his junior year.