On October 1, 1949, the university played its first football game on Caniglia Field. Since then, the field has hosted football, track and field, soccer, fundraising walks, marching bands, flaming batons, intramural sports, graduation ceremonies and more.
Omaha University assistant coach Don Benning, head coach Al Caniglia and assistant coach Lou Miloni circa 1960. The stadium is named after the program’s 12th head football coach in school history, Al Caniglia. Cangilia coached the Mavericks in 1960-73 and finished as the fourth-winningest coach in program history with a 74-55-5 overall record.
Generations of students have made memories on Caniglia Field including athletes, cheerleaders, baton twirlers, color guard, dance team and members of the marching band.
The grass field and track were used for intermural sports, clubs and other events such as the UNO Women’s Walk (now the Maverick Run), which began in 1984.
Caniglia Field was renovated in 2012 to become the practice and competition facility for the Omaha men’s and women’s soccer programs. In 2019, it was named one of the top 11 places in the nation to experience college soccer after the NCAA polled college soccer fans for their favorite places to watch the sport.
The first UNO football game with the new press box, UNO vs. UNK, September 9, 2000. Caniglia Field served as the home for the football program for 62 seasons.
