In March 1963, Bush was replaced as head coach by 31-year-old Joe Cipriano, who had been the head coach at Idaho for three seasons. Nebraska athletic director Tippy Dye had coached Cipriano at Washington, where they led the Huskies to the 1953 Final Four (third place) and a record during the energetic Cipriano's varsity career. Following graduation, he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater until he was hired by Idaho in May 1960. His Vandals improved each year and posted a 20–6 record as an independent in 1962–63, led by future Basketball Hall of Famer Gus Johnson. "Slippery Joe" brought an up-tempo style of basketball to the Coliseum; his Nebraska teams pressed full-court and ran a fast-break offense, which led the Big Eight in scoring average in 1966, 1967, and 1968.