Nebraska Nearly Hired Dana Altman Over Fred Hoiberg

Former Athletic Director Bill Moos details how close Nebraska came to landing the Creighton coach instead of the current Huskers head coach.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Former Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos revealed that he was close to hiring Dana Altman as the Huskers' new basketball coach in 2019, instead of ultimately landing on Fred Hoiberg. Moos said he believed Altman, who had a successful 16-year tenure at nearby Creighton, would have been intrigued by the Nebraska job. However, former Nebraska Board of Regents member Jim Pillen, who is now the state's governor, shut down the idea, believing Altman would not be accepted by the people of Nebraska.

Why it matters

This story provides an interesting 'what-if' scenario for Nebraska basketball, as Altman has gone on to sustained success at Oregon, while Hoiberg's tenure has been a mixed bag so far. It also highlights the influence that university leadership can have on major coaching hires.

The details

Moos said he was in Chicago for conference meetings when he got a call indicating he might have a chance to speak with Altman about the Nebraska job. However, before anything could progress, Pillen rejected the idea, telling Moos that 'Nebraska won't accept him.' Moos argued that Altman, who is from the small Nebraska town of Wilber, was as 'Nebraska' as it gets, but Pillen remained firm in his opposition.

  • In 2019, Nebraska fired head coach Tim Miles after seven seasons.
  • Moos was the Nebraska athletic director at the time, tasked with finding a replacement.

The players

Bill Moos

The former athletic director of the University of Nebraska, who led the search that ultimately landed Fred Hoiberg as the Huskers' head coach.

Dana Altman

The longtime head coach of the Creighton Bluejays, who Moos believed would have been interested in the Nebraska job before being rejected by the university leadership.

Fred Hoiberg

The current head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who was hired by Moos after the pursuit of Altman fell through.

Jim Pillen

A former member of the Nebraska Board of Regents who is now the Governor of Nebraska, and who shut down Moos' pursuit of Altman for the Huskers job.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not saying Dana was going to come to Nebraska but I think it intruged him.”

— Bill Moos, Former Nebraska Athletic Director (on3.com)

“Jim Pillen goes 'No.' He goes, 'Nebraska won't accept him.' That's when I said, 'He's from Wilber, less than hour away from Lincoln. You can't get much more Nebraska than that.' He goes, 'No.' That may have been the most frustrating of my days at Nebraska, and there were a few.”

— Bill Moos, Former Nebraska Athletic Director (on3.com)

What’s next

The Nebraska basketball program will look to continue its strong season under Fred Hoiberg, who has the Huskers in contention for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2014.

The takeaway

This story highlights the influence that university leadership can have on major coaching hires, even when athletic directors believe they have a chance to land a high-profile candidate. It also serves as an intriguing 'what-if' scenario for Nebraska basketball, as Dana Altman has gone on to sustained success at Oregon while Fred Hoiberg's tenure in Lincoln has been more uneven so far.