OKLAHOMA CITY — Among the 16 head coaches remaining in the NCAA Tournament, Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg exemplifies composure and a measured approach.
Coaches such as Dan Hurley, Tom Izzo, Rick Pitino, Brad Underwood, Kelvin Sampson, Rick Barnes, and Sean Miller are known for their intensity. Even Hoiberg’s opponent on Thursday in Houston, Iowa’s Ben McCollum — who is guiding Nebraska to its first Sweet 16 ever and Iowa to its first in 27 years — recently exchanged sharp words with aggressive trash-talker Todd Golden during a stunning upset against Florida. While other coaches’ temperaments vary, only Hoiberg possesses the knack of yelling at officials in a manner that still seems somewhat affable.
However, this isn’t always his disposition.
“Oh, there’s an intense side that you guys don’t really see at all,” Nebraska guard Jamarques Lawrence revealed.
“He maintains a very even keel for the media and in public, but he’s actually quite a goofy person,” stated Hoiberg’s son and starting point guard, Sam Hoiberg, referencing his father’s antics during legendary family games of the board game Catch Phrase. “He’s sort of the family comedian.”
Fred Hoiberg himself has bristled when questioned about yelling at his team — which he undeniably does — and last week offered a personal illustration of his emotions getting the better of him: the “meltdown” he would have as a child on the rare occasions his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers football team suffered a loss. Much like the more demonstrative coaches still in the competition, there is more to the individual than what brief public glimpses reveal.
The next pertinent question is the extent of his program’s depth. And following that: how much more is there? The South Region’s No. 4 seed Nebraska (28-6) stands one decisive victory over No. 9 seed Iowa (23-12) away from building on their program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win and first Sweet 16 with their inaugural Elite Eight appearance. Moreover, if No. 3 seed Illinois (26-8) defeats No. 2 seed Houston (30-6) on the other side of the bracket, the Huskers would then compete for a Final Four spot against another team they have a split record with, having won on the road.
This is the most compelling narrative, the closest thing to a Cinderella story, remaining in the tournament. This is due to the evolving program history. It’s the sentiment that Nebraska fans, having endured years beyond the despair of football losses, truly deserve such a moment. It’s also tied to Hoiberg’s personal history — with a grandfather who coached Nebraska basketball and another who taught sociology at the university — and the shared family experience he is having with Sam and Sam’s twin brother, graduate manager Charlie.
It encapsulates a seven-year journey to this juncture, including two seasons with only seven wins, a pay reduction, and a shift in philosophy. Furthermore, the team exhibits broad appeal. Beyond the Hoibergs, there’s Lawrence returning to his rightful basketball home after a year at Rhode Island; Pryce Sandfort emerging as a star after playing as a reserve with his brother at Iowa; Lincoln’s own fiery freshman Braden Frager sinking the game-winning basket against Vanderbilt in a memorable contest; and Rienk Mast leading and orchestrating plays despite a knee injury that ideally should prevent him from competing.
The current objective is to normalize this level of achievement. To stop reducing lifelong fans to tears with every March triumph. To become less of an underdog.
Moments after Thursday’s victory over Troy, which marked Nebraska’s first NCAA Tournament success in nine historical attempts, athletic director Troy Dannen spoke outside the victorious locker room about precisely this — sustained achievement.
“He’s found the winning formula for Nebraska,” Dannen affirmed regarding Hoiberg. “There are many prospective recruits who will appreciate how the program treats its athletes, and the supportive way the fans treat them.”
Hoiberg has secured two four-star, top-100 recruits for next season: 6-foot-8 Colin Rice from Waukee, Iowa — Sandfort’s hometown — and 6-foot-5 Jacob Lanier from Little Rock, Ark. Hoiberg out-recruited Iowa and Illinois for Rice, and TCU and Ole Miss for Lanier, signifying strong additions. However, Hoiberg currently coaches an experienced team, will lose three pivotal seniors, and, like most other coaches, must rely on transfer-portal acquisitions each spring.
Nebraska general manager Luca Virgilio stated that the NCAA Tournament success “will definitely enhance the public perception” of Nebraska basketball. It also provides Hoiberg with a compelling platform for recruitment, which he effectively leveraged in Oklahoma City.
“I don’t know what specific advantages it gives us moving forward,” Hoiberg admitted. “We currently exist in a peculiar landscape with NIL, the portal, and all related factors that we navigate. But it certainly doesn’t hurt. I believe our system and the style of play are excellent for skilled big men… If you can shoot the basketball, you can observe the success Pryce and Braden are having in our system this year, along with other multi-skilled players. Yes, when everything opens up and we aim to reconstruct the roster, we will extensively discuss this. We’ll have videos and materials to showcase to potential recruits, illustrating what their experience could be like here.”
Financial discussions will also be part of the process, of course. As rewarding as this season has been for Nebraska, the perspective from the Sweet 16 also serves as a reminder of the competitive intensity of the conference.
Consider McCollum’s immediate impact in his first season in Iowa City. Observe Dusty May’s rapid two-year rise to success at Michigan. Izzo at Michigan State, Underwood at Illinois, Matt Painter at Purdue — these coaches are firmly entrenched.
And Indiana, a football-focused institution, continues to heavily invest in its pursuit of former basketball glory. Similarly, Nebraska, a program now recognized for its basketball success, also seeks to reclaim its past gridiron eminence.
“I can tell you we’re not at the top,” Virgilio stated regarding the program’s financial resources compared with the rest of the Big Ten. “I think we’re right around the bottom. Not absolute bottom, but we navigate those constraints. Player retention is crucial; we have to achieve more with less. Our margin for error is small due to the available resources. We’ve been collaborating significantly with the administration recently to maximize these resources, and that has been very positive. We simply need to keep finding ways to identify players who fit our system, both on and off the court.”
It’s possible that Hoiberg’s breakthrough team, with its yet-to-be-determined final outcome, will galvanize donors much like Curt Cignetti did to sustain Indiana football’s momentum. While “more with less” is admirable, it sometimes means missing out on that singular player who could elevate the team to the next level. It can also lead to losing a coach. Rest assured, Hoiberg’s name will appear on speculative lists for head coaching vacancies at programs with greater financial capacity.
Fortunately for Nebraska, this represents more than just Hoiberg’s current job. And while he undoubtedly has his quirks — cheating at Catch Phrase, really? — that gentle, composed public demeanor is Hoiberg’s authentic self, according to those who know him best. His unwavering consistency is a powerful attribute, one that is increasingly mirrored by his basketball program.
“When we were struggling, and now that we’re winning, he’s been exactly the same,” remarked Cale Jacobsen, a fourth-year junior and former walk-on. “He’s never altered his treatment of anyone; he treats everyone equally.”