March 8, 2026; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers coach Fred Hoiberg leaves the court after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Image Nebraska on Monday signed men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg to a contract extension through the 2031-32 season.
Hoiberg led the Cornhuskers to a program-record 15 wins in Big Ten play this season. They enter this week’s conference tournament with a 26-5 record, and one more win would set a new program wins record, breaking the current tie with the 1990-91 team (26-8).
Hoiberg’s previous deal ran through 2028-29. Terms of his extension were not disclosed.
“Fred Hoiberg is a great representative of the University of Nebraska, the Lincoln community and our state. We are very proud that he will continue to lead the Nebraska men’s basketball program for years to come,” Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen said in a press release. “Fred has built this program step by step, and his leadership has placed Nebraska in a position to continue to compete at a high level in the Big Ten Conference and nationally. Fred is one of the most respected coaches in the country by his peers, and his success has been recognized throughout the college basketball world.”
Hoiberg, 53, has a 110-113 record in seven seasons at Nebraska. The growth has been gradual since he took over the program. They started off with seven wins in each of their first two seasons and culminated in three consecutive 20-win seasons over the past three years. This was something that had never happened before in the program’s history.
“We appreciate the continued trust of Troy Dannen and Jeffrey Gold and the support they have shown in our staff’s leadership of the Husker basketball program,” Hoiberg said in a press release. “We have a long family history with the University of Nebraska, and the support we have received over the past seven years has been truly amazing. We have world-class facilities, but it is our people that make Nebraska special. Our goal is to continue to build a program that fans can embrace and be proud of because it represents Nebraska’s values.”
Nebraska will make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 under Hoiberg in 2024. The Cornhuskers have never won an NCAA Tournament game and have lost their opener in each of their eight appearances.
As the projected No. 3 seed in this year’s field according to the ESPN bracket, they will be heavily favored to end this season’s drought.
Hoiberg, who played at Iowa State (1991-95) and the NBA (1995-2005), was previously the head coach of his alma mater (2010-15) and the Chicago Bulls (2015-18). He led the Cyclones to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet 16 in 2014, compiled a 115-155 record in Chicago and reached the playoffs once in three full seasons.
–Field level media
