Nebraska Coach Hoiberg Smacks Phone from Iowa Fan's Hand During Court Storm

Incident occurred after Nebraska's loss to Iowa, as fans rushed the court.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg was caught on video smacking an Iowa fan's phone out of their hand as fans rushed the court following Iowa's 57-52 win over Nebraska on Tuesday night. Hoiberg also inadvertently struck an Iowa staff member in the back of the head during the incident. The unidentified Iowa fan had apparently confronted Hoiberg just prior to the phone-smacking incident.

Why it matters

Court-storming incidents have become an increasing point of concern in college basketball, with coaches and players sometimes getting caught up in the chaos. This latest incident raises questions about security protocols and fan behavior at these types of postgame celebrations.

The details

Video footage shows Hoiberg smacking the phone out of the Iowa fan's hand as the fan appeared to be confronting the coach during the postgame handshake line. Hoiberg also inadvertently struck an Iowa staff member in the back of the head with his follow-through motion. The Big Ten Conference has not yet commented on the incident or any potential disciplinary action against Hoiberg.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, following Nebraska's 57-52 loss to Iowa.

The players

Fred Hoiberg

The head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball team.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The men's basketball team that defeated Nebraska 57-52 on Tuesday night.

Unidentified Iowa Fan

An Iowa fan who confronted Hoiberg and had his phone smacked out of his hand by the Nebraska coach.

Unidentified Iowa Staff Member

An Iowa staff member who was inadvertently struck in the back of the head by Hoiberg during the incident.

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What’s next

The Big Ten Conference has not yet commented on the incident or any potential disciplinary action against Hoiberg. It remains to be seen if the conference will address the matter publicly.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges colleges and universities face in managing court-storming celebrations, which can put players, coaches, and staff at risk. It underscores the need for improved security protocols and crowd control measures to ensure the safety of all involved.