When Creighton’s head men’s soccer coach Bob Warming is inducted into the Omaha Sports Hall of Fame on April 29, the hardest part of the night will be giving his acceptance speech.

“I don’t think I’m going to have enough time to thank everyone,” Warming said. “There are just so many people who have helped me along the way.”

Warming, entering his 14th season with the Jays, is one of seven members of the 2009 class.

“I am honored to become a member of the Hall,” Warming said. “I am humbled to be considered among so many awesome people who are already in.”

The 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer National Coach of the Year came to Creighton from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

“[MVC Commissioner] Doug Elgin called me in 1989 and asked me if I wanted to help resurrect the Creighton program [which had not been playing competitively for four years],” Warming said. “He told me about Omaha and I said, ‘No thanks, Doug. I don’t want to go to Oklahoma.’

“He said, ‘Well, that’s good. Omaha is in Nebraska.'”

The Kentucky native settled in well. In his time with the Jays, Warming has become the all-time winningest coach in school history with a record of 183-57-29.

His teams have been among the best in the country nearly every year. He has guided the Bluejays to seven MVC regular-season championships and seven Valley tournament titles.

“He [Warming] truly is one of the best coaches in the country, of any sport,” said Director of Athletics Bruce Rasmussen.

“Seventeen consecutive NCAA tournaments in men’s soccer is an unbelievable accomplishment.”

Warming says he is most proud of being able to set a solid base for Creighton soccer and see it grow into the national and global program it is now.

“I had such good people with me in the beginning,” Warming said. “I still have those same types of people with me today.”

Warming left Creighton in 1994 to become the head coach at St. Louis University, but he came back in 2001.

During the current Warming era, the program has moved into Morrison Stadium, one of the best soccer facilities in the country. Creighton soccer has also become an attendance leader nationally.

The Omaha Sports Hall of Fame, which is in the basement of the Durham Western Heritage Museum downtown, was founded in 2006. Its goal is to “provide a permanent place to honor individuals with strong ties to Omaha and who have achieved tremendous success through athletics.”

Bruce Rasmussen, the current Athletics Director, was inducted last year, along with former AD Don Leahy. Former Bluejay baseball and basketball standout Bob Gibson was part of the inaugural class in 2007.

Also being inducted this year are: UNO wrestling coach Mike Denny, Mautice Ivy, the 1939 McDevitt’s baseball team, Tom Novak, Gregg Olson and former Bluejay pitching coach Bill Olson.

Despite all the success, Warming doesn’t feel he deserves all of the credit.

“I’ve never kicked the ball into the goal, I’ve never saved a shot, I’ve never taped an ankle, I’ve never written a press release, I’ve never booked a flight,” Warming said, in his slow, Southern drawl.

“I have been the face of the program, but I could not of done all of this myself.

“This award is for everyone I have worked with, as much as it is for me.”