The history of Doane University dates from 1857, when the General Association of Congregational Churches, in its first annual meeting in Fremont, Nebraska, resolved to lay the foundations of a literary institution of a high order in the state. Fourteen years later, and after several unsuccessful attempts to establish Congregational schools across the state, an academy was founded in Crete on May 22, 1871. The efforts of Frederick Francis Alley, the local Congregational pastor, and Thomas Doane, chief civil engineer for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, were instrumental in advancing the idea of the Academy. On July 11, 1872, Doane College preempted the old Crete Academy. On May 9, 2016, the institution was renamed to Doane University. Doane is the first liberal arts and sciences college in Nebraska. The university has had 67 Fulbright Scholars since the program began in 1946.
Enrollment
The enrollment consists of over 1,000 undergraduate students on the Crete campus, as well as 750 adult learners and 1,200 graduate students who attend the Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island campuses.
Academics
Doane offers more than 40 undergraduate majors; several pre-professional programs; three graduate programs, and a Doctorate in Education.
Athletics
Doane University athletic teams, nicknamed the Tigers, are part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, competing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball. Co-ed sports include cheerleading, dance, and shotgun sports. The first college football coach at Doane was F.P. Reed, who led the team to a 1–1 record. Other coaches in its football history include Al Papik, Tommie Frazier, Matt Franzen and current head coach Chris Bessler. 1905 Nebraska State College Football Champions. After defeating Bellevue College, the 1905 Doane College football team became the Nebraska State Football Champions. Considered a formidable team, not in small part to their combined weight, the Doane team lost their subsequent game with University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, 43-5. The largest player on the Doane team was 220 pound, left guard, Claude LeRoy Farrow of Aurora, Nebraska. Doane's football team has participated in three bowl games, winning two and tying one. The first was the 1950 Bean Bowl where they defeated Colorado State College by a score of 14–6. Doane then had back-to-back appearances in the Mineral Water Bowl in 1967 and 1968. They have qualified for the NAIA National Playoffs six times, most recently in 2016, and were semifinalist in 1972 and 1997.
Cassel Open Air Theatre, an outdoor theatre designed in 1936 and was named for Doane graduate and former treasurer of the institution, Albert Thomas Cassel. It serves as a location for classes, graduation ceremonies, and on some occasions, weddings.
