Fred Hoiberg returns to college basketball, accepts Nebraska job

Fred Hoiberg is returning to the college game as the new head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The hiring also marks a return to Lincoln for Hoiberg, who was born in the city before moving with his family as a child to Ames, Iowa.

“I can’t express how excited I am to be back on the sidelines and to be coaching at a university that means a lot to my family and me,” Hoiberg said in a press release on Saturday. “Lincoln is a special place for our family. I was born in Lincoln, my grandfather Jerry Bush was the head coach at Nebraska, my other grandfather was a long-time professor there, and my parents are proud graduates of the University of Nebraska.”

Hoiberg’s first stint as a college basketball head coach was incredibly successful, leading his alma mater Iowa State for five seasons. He took the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament four times, won two Big 12 Tournament crowns and went 115-56 (.673) overall. The success caught the eye of multiple NBA teams and Hoiberg was eventually lured away to the pro game by the Chicago Bulls, who hired him as their head coach in 2015.

Hoiberg went 42-40 and 41-41 in his first two seasons with the Bulls, but just 27-55 in year three. After the team started this season 5-19, Hoiberg was fired and the basketball world immediately began whispering about a potential return to campus. Nebraska parted ways with Tim Miles this week after seven seasons in Lincoln, opening the door for said return.

Athletic director Bill Moos will officially introduce Hoiberg in a press conference on Tuesday. The reported deal is $25 million over seven years, which would make him the 3rd highest paid coach in the Big Ten (11th highest nationwide).

credit to Rich Sugg/AP for the photo