Former Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg agreed to a seven-year, $25-million deal on Saturday to become the head coach of Nebraska, the school announced.
"Lincoln is a special place for our family," Hoiberg said in a statement. "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. Nebraska has always felt like a second home.
"I had the opportunity to coach at Pinnacle Bank Arena with the Bulls, and I have seen first-hand that the facilities are as nice as any in the country. When you couple that with a loyal and passionate fan base, you can see there is great potential for the future of Nebraska basketball."
Hoiberg's return to the collegiate level comes as no surprise after a disappointing four-year tenure with the Bulls. He was let go after a 5-19 start to the 2018-19 season and finished with a 115-155 record overall.
Prior to his NBA stint, Hoiberg successfully led Iowa State to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and won two Big 12 Tournament championships.
"When you look at him, you see an individual who has had success as a player and a coach," Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos said. "Fred's background will sell itself on the recruiting trail, and help us bring in the type of student-athletes needed to compete at the highest level.
"His style of play not only will be appealing to prospective recruits, but will also provide our great fans an entertaining brand of basketball."
The 46-year-old had reportedly been the front-runner for the Cornhuskers' coaching vacancy after the program parted ways with Tim Miles.
Hoiberg will look to lead Nebraska to just its second NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999. The Cornhuskers have never made it past Round 1 in the history of the program.
