Dennis Leblanc was named Nebraska’s Executive Associate Athletic Director for Academics in 2015, after being promoted from Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Programs and Student Services. He has directed the academic program since 1993. Leblanc, who has been with the Academic Support Program for Student-Athletes since 1987, joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in 1983 as a member of the track and field staff. In addition to his historic success leading Nebraska’s academic program, Leblanc serves as a sport administrator for the Husker football program.
Under Leblanc’s leadership, Nebraska has become the national leader in CSC Academic All-Americans for football and all sports, NCAA Today’s Top Ten Award honorees and recipients of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Postgraduate Scholarship. Since he joined the academic staff in 1987, 278 of Nebraska’s 351 CSC Academic All-Americans have been honored, while NU has claimed 15 of its 18 NCAA Today’s Top Ten Award recipients. Nearly 4,000 Husker student-athletes have earned their degrees during Leblanc’s tenure.
The 95 percent Graduation Success Rate (GSR), reported in the 2022-23 academic year, ties for the highest in school history and marks the fifth consecutive year the rate has been at 90 percent or higher. This record setting GSR of 95 percent ranks Nebraska second out of 110 public FBS institutions. Nebraska student-athletes across all sports posted a 3.370 cumulative GPA in the spring of 2023, the highest GPA ever recorded. In addition, all Nebraska teams achieved an NCAA Academic Performance Rate (APR) of 955 or higher, marking the eighth consecutive year that all teams attained an APR better than 950.
Over the past decade, Nebraska’s academic support program for student-athletes has received outstanding reviews from the NCAA Certification Review Team, the Nebraska Faculty Intercollegiate Athletics Committee and the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletes (N4A).
Leblanc is a member of the N4A, and in 2002 he received its prestigious Lan Hewlett Award presented to an athletic administrator in recognition of distinguished performance in providing personal, academic and professional guidance to student-athletes.
Leblanc was presented the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Service to Students at the 2004 University of Nebraska Honors Convocation, which recognizes individuals who go above and beyond their assigned duties, devoting extra time and effort in serving the needs of students. In 2005, he was presented with Honorary Mortar Board membership honoring him for his leadership and service to students. In 2007, Leblanc received the Hero Mentor Award through the American Red Cross, which annually recognizes a person for outstanding leadership and mentoring. In 2018, he was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, which is a national leadership honor society, recognizing his leadership in athletics on campus.
Leblanc earned his bachelor’s degree from Bethany College, and a master’s degree from Wichita State University. He and his wife, Coreen, have four children and two grandchildren: Olivia (and her husband, Shane) have one daughter, Charlotte; Christian (and his wife, Paige) have one daughter, Linden; Mackenzie (and her husband, Cal); and Madeleine (and her fiance, Keenon).