OMAHA, Nebraska - The Omaha Supernovas, Nebraska’s first and only major league professional volleyball team in the Pro Volleyball Federation, announced today that Doctor Larry Widman will be joining the franchise as part of the Performance Team for the inaugural season which kicks off with the league’s first-ever match on January 24, 2024, at the CHI Health Center, between the Supernovas and the Atlanta Vibe.
“We are very excited for Dr. Widman to join our sports performance team,” said Supernovas Head Coach Shelton Collier. “He has an impressive history of successes with volleyball programs and players in Nebraska and nationwide. He’s the ideal person to step into this important role with us as we get things started with our team here in Omaha. He has an awesome perspective and will certainly be very valuable to our staff and players as we navigate this first season together.”
Doctor Widman has more than 25 years of experience as a psychiatrist, nearly 20 of which has been working as a high-performance mindset coach. The author of several books including “Max Out Mindset” and “Max Out Mindset for Volleyball”, Dr. Widman has worked with professional athletes, Olympians, and elite-level college and high school athletes. He works with multiple NCAA, NAIA, and top high school programs throughout the country. That includes being the mindset coach for American volleyball icon Jordan Larson who he coached in the buildup to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games in which the U.S.A. would win the gold medal for the first time.
Doctor Widman’s work branches out further, helping many of the top college volleyball teams in the nation. He was an integral part in assisting Nebraska Volleyball Head Coach John Cook rediscover his passion for coaching while helping him understand the modern athlete. He has also worked with Creighton Volleyball Head Coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth, and her program, since 2012. During that time the Bluejays have made 11 consecutive NCAA Tournaments including a Sweet 16 run in 2015 followed by an Elite Eight appearance in 2016.
“I am thrilled to be taking on a supporting role with the Omaha Supernovas!” said Dr. Widman. “My life's journey has uniquely prepared me for this opportunity to offer top-tier mindset training to some of the world’s most talented volleyball players and coaches as we bring real pro volleyball to the United States. My focus is on the whole person, with the goal of helping them max out when it matters the most in life and sport.”
A Westside High School graduate, Dr. Widman completed his medical schooling at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and did a combined residency with UNMC and Creighton University. Doctor Widman lives in Lincoln with his wife Julie and has two children, Bennett and Sophie.
REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL competition will officially begin in the United States with the Omaha Supernovas hosting the Atlanta Vibe in the first match in league history at the CHI Health Center in downtown Omaha on January 24, at 7:00 p.m. CT. Nebraska supports volleyball better than anyone, as evidenced by the more than 92,000 fans that turned out this season for a collegiate match at the Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium in August, setting a new world record for the highest attended women’s sporting event.
The Supernovas are one of seven U.S. teams for the 2024 inaugural season: Omaha Supernovas, Atlanta Vibe, Orlando Valkyries, Columbus Fury, Grand Rapids Rise, San Diego Mojo and Vegas Pro Volleyball. Two expansion teams, Dallas Pro Volleyball and Kansas City Pro Volleyball, have been announced for 2025. In Season One, the Pro Volleyball Federation will be showcased in three different U.S. time zones. Matches will take place on 67 different dates between January and May 2024, occurring on every day of the week.
The Supernovas will play 12 home matches and 12 away matches, for a total of 24 matches in the 16-week regular season. The full schedule is available on the team’s website, Supernovas.com. After the regular season, the Supernovas are aiming to be one of the top four squads in the standings that will compete for the Pro Volleyball Federation Championship in May. The location of the championship will be determined and announced at a later date.
The current Supernovas world-class roster includes Olympians, U.S. National Team veterans, NCAA National Champions and All-Americans, to include Bethania de la Cruz, Tori Dixon, Danielle Hart, Sydney Hilley, Gina Mancuso-Prososki, Brooke Nuneviller, Yossiana Pressley, Nia Reed, Jess Schaben-Lansman, Natalia Valentín-Anderson, Hristina Vuchkova, Lindsey Vander Weide and Kendall White.
Season Tickets are available at the team’s website and on the team’s app, available for download on smartphones and tablets.
ABOUT OMAHA SUPERNOVAS
The Omaha Supernovas aims to be the premier home of professional volleyball throughout the world. The team is owned by global music sensation Jason Derulo and entrepreneurs Danny White and Chris Erickson, Co-Founders of City+Ventures, an investment and business acceleration organization headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
ABOUT PRO VOLLEYBALL FEDERATION
Pro Volleyball Federation is REAL PRO VOLLEYBALL and the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. Pro Volleyball Federation will begin play in January 2024 with world class players and coaches, including some of America’s greatest volleyball players and elite players from around the world. Our entire focus is on ensuring that our level and quality of play, our treatment of players, the quality of our event presentations, and our day-to-day fan experience is world class and the very best offered in North America. For more information, visit ProVolleyball.com.