After law change that favored Coach Tom Osborne, Nebraska Hall of Fame moves to induct him

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The Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission voted 7-0 Wednesday afternoon to induct former Husker football head coach Tom Osborne.

Gov. Jim Pillen made an appearance at the commission’s nomination meeting to propose that the group induct Osborne. In an announcement Tuesday, a spokesperson for the governor’s office said Pillen is encouraging the nomination for Osborne’s “profound contributions to the state, particularly his lasting impact on youth mentorship through the TeamMates Mentoring Program.”

Following the vote, Pillen spoke with reporters and offered his reaction to the news.

“I got goosebumps. I'll just tell you the way it is. I have goosebumps. It's a really, really great day for Nebraska,” he said.

Pillen harped on the impact of TeamMates and its “ripple effect” throughout the state. Overall, he said Osborne is a great public servant and always there to offer help.

“Tom Osborne's the walk of the walk,” Pillen said. “I think it's just extraordinarily appropriate that we give him the recognition of an incredible Hall of Fame for the state of Nebraska that will never ever forget who Tom Osborne is.”

The coach’s love of Nebraska and the people of this state “is second to none,” Pillen said. The bust statue of the coach and representative will be finished within the month and was funded by private donations from about 10-12 of his former players.

The governor has been instrumental in getting Osborne inducted. He lobbied for legislation earlier this year that amended state law and eliminated the longstanding 35-year posthumous waiting period and allowed living Nebraskans to be considered for induction. The new law, LB596 was updated to add that nominees must demonstrate exceptional achievements in public service, leadership in collegiate athletics and dedicated youth mentorship.

When speaking in January about the legislation while it was being considered, Pillen said the state was “indebted to coach and all the great things he has accomplished during this lifetime.”

“It is time we recognize him appropriately and I’m very pleased that an overwhelming majority of the Legislature agrees and that a bipartisan group is co-sponsoring this truly wonderful, unifying bill,” Pillen said.

Osborne, who is 89, was born in Nebraska and participated in football, baseball and track at Hastings College. After a short-lived NFL career, Osborne became an unpaid assistant to Bob Devaney at Nebraska. He was named offensive coordinator in 1969 and took over as head coach in 1973 after Devaney retired. Over 25 seasons as head coach, Osborne led Nebraska to 255 wins and three national championships. Pillen played for Osborne from 1975-1978.

After his coaching career, Osborne served as Nebraska’s 3rd District representative in Congress from 2001-2007. He returned to the university and served as athletic director from 2010-2013. He and his wife, Nancy, also founded the TeamMates mentoring program.

Osborne was the only nominee at Wednesday's event.

The Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission inducts one person every five years. It follows a nomination, review and public hearing process that spans the entire five-year period. The last person to be inducted was civil rights leader Malcom X who was approved in 2022. He was the first Black Nebraskan to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was in that same year that several members pushed to induct Louise Pound.

Typically, the Capitol building would host a Hall of Fame induction. Pillen said the details of the coach’s induction are still being worked out, but he noted that it would be at a venue where everyone can celebrate Osborne.