A veteran administrator and College Football Hall of Famer, Trev Alberts was named Vice Chancellor for Athletics at the University of Nebraska on July 14, 2021. Alberts returned to his alma mater after spending 12 years at Nebraska-Omaha, guiding the program through a successful transition to the Division I level.

Alberts’ tenure leading UNO athletics was marked by successes in competition and in academics; by transitioning the university’s athletic programs to NCAA Division I in 2011; and by establishing new homes for many UNO athletics teams, including Baxter Arena, the Maverick Park baseball/softball complex and the soccer pitch at Caniglia Field.

Alberts took the bold step in announcing that Omaha would reclassify from Division II to Division I in all sports in 2011 and simultaneously securing conference affiliation with the Summit League for all of the department’s then-Division II programs. His vision for UNO’s reclassifying teams was demonstrated even before the four-year transition period had ended. The Omaha baseball team won back-to-back Summit League regular-season championships in 2013 and 2014, while the men’s basketball team made its first Division I postseason appearance in 2014 with a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

During UNO’s time in the Division I ranks under Alberts tenure, the Mavericks had six teams and four student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Tournament, including hockey advancing to the Frozen Four in 2015 and men’s soccer reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament in the spring of 2021. He also expanded opportunities, adding men’s golf and men’s soccer in 2011 and Omaha will begin a men’s swimming and diving program in 2021-22.

Throughout his tenure in Omaha, Alberts was focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience, including the construction and staffing of the Hamilton Academic Excellence Room and the development of the Ethel S. Abbott Student-Athlete Development Wing. Those efforts paid off in Nebraska-Omaha student-athletes posting consistent collective semester grade point averages above 3.3 for 18 consecutive semesters, including at least a 3.5 in each of his final three semesters.

The facilities around Omaha Athletics received a major uplift during his tenure. Maverick Park opened in March of 2021 to rave reviews as the home to the Mavericks’ baseball and softball programs. Funding for the complex, which includes a 1,500-seat baseball facility and a 650-seat softball facility, were raised privately and provided both programs a permanent on-campus home for the first time.

Another crowning achievement was the opening of Baxter Arena in 2015. Alberts directed efforts to secure community support and funding to build the on-campus arena, which allowed the nationally prominent hockey program to play on campus and also serve as the home of the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs. Caniglia Field underwent renovations in 2012, making it one of the finest collegiate soccer facilities in the country, highlighted by a FIFA 2-star rated playing surface and one of the largest LED videoboards in a soccer-only college facility.

Alberts’ work on behalf of hockey, UNO’s established Division I sport, also paid dividends. He successfully guided the Mavericks into the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference in 2013-14. The following year, Omaha reached the 2015 NCAA Frozen Four.

In addition, Alberts and his team led Omaha Athletics into a partnership with Learfield, a national leader in the marketing of collegiate athletics, and developed Omaha Sports Properties. As the exclusive corporate sponsorship sales unit for UNO Athletics, Omaha Sports Properties further enhanced revenue and increased brand prominence locally, regionally and nationally.

As part of UNO’s reclassification to Division I, Alberts oversaw the rebranding of UNO athletics with new primary and secondary logos and a greater focus on strengthening the Maverick brand both regionally and nationally.

As a student-athlete, Alberts was an All-American on and off the football field as a Husker Blackshirt. He was Nebraska’s first Butkus Award winner in 1993, helping Coach Tom Osborne’s Huskers to an undefeated regular season and an Orange Bowl appearance against Florida State. A first-team All-American by every major publication in 1993, he was also the Football News National Defensive Player of the Year, the Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year, and the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year. His No. 34 jersey was retired at the 1994 Red-White Spring Game. In 2015, he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Off the field, Alberts earned the NCAA’s highest honor, The Today’s Top Six Award. A three-time academic All-Big Eight honoree, he was a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1993. He graduated from Nebraska before his senior season.

Alberts was the fifth pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts and played for the Colts until 1996. Following his NFL career, he served as an analyst on college and professional football games for major national networks, including ESPN, CNN/SI and CBS Sports Network.

Alberts and his wife Angela have three children – Chase, Ashtynne and Breanna.

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Doug Ewald began his role as Nebraska’s Executive Associate Athletic Director and Chief Financial Officer on November 1, 2021. Ewald is an experienced expert in the financial, accounting, and business development fields, having worked more than 30 years in Nebraska’s private and public sectors. In his position, Ewald oversees the athletic department’s business operations and serves as a key member of Vice Chancellor, Director of Athletics Trev Alberts’ senior administrative staff.

Doug’s area of oversight in addition to the business office include: the Husker Athletic Fund, ticketing, Husker Athletic Partners, Huskers Radio Network, creative and emerging media, licensing and branding, marketing and fan experience, spirit squad, HuskerVision, human resources, department travel and equipment management.

Ewald joined Husker Athletics after spending over three years as the Vice Chancellor for Business, Finance and Business Development at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In his prior role on the Omaha campuses, Ewald oversaw all budget, finance, human resource, operational and administrative services as well as all business development activities in support of Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.

Ewald’s career spans three decades and includes a variety of work in the business and finance world. His most public role involved serving as Nebraska’s Tax Commissioner under Governor Dave Heinemann (2006 – 2013). In this position, he restructured the department into a more customer-responsive agency and successfully leveraged technology to reduce the workforce by 20% while leading the nation in electronic tax-return filing. He is the only CPA to serve in this capacity.

In addition to Doug’s work at the state, he spent 17 years with Union Pacific, ultimately serving as the Director of State Taxes where he twice drafted and lobbied state tax incentive legislation. His other employers include Omaha-based public accounting firms Arthur Andersen and KPMG.

A lifelong Nebraskan, Ewald holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Buena Vista University (1985) and a master’s degree in professional accounting from UNO (1987). Ewald is a Certified Public Accountant.

Doug and his wife Robin have three adult children. Sons Dane (Amanda), Cale (Morgan) and daughter Emily (Nolan) and granddaughter Olive.

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Derek Freeman was promoted to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development in November 2023. Freeman leads and manages the athletics development and ticket office teams. He is responsible for raising gifts to support the mission, vision and strategic plan of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and will focus on the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of identified athletics donors.

Freeman has been a member of Nebraska Athletic Development since September 1998 and has held many roles. Most recently, Freeman was an Assistant AD for Internal Operations. Freeman’s responsibilities have included cultivating donor relations with the University’s top donors, managing all contributions to Nebraska Athletics including the Go Big capital campaign, supervising the online seat selection process (Seat Yourself), allocating parking for most ticketed sports, and providing the reporting and analytics for the Huskers Athletic Fund.

A native of Lincoln, Freeman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an emphasis in management from Nebraska in May 1998. Married to the former Lindsey Soukup, Freeman and his wife have two sons, Brody and Gavin, and one daughter, Blake.

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Tyler Kai joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in August of 2021 as the Associate AD of Leadership Gifts & Capital Projects for the Huskers Athletic Fund. Kai leads the overall major gift program for capital projects and endowments, secures major gift commitments from Huskers supporters, manages the Huskers Athletic Fund major gift officers to reach targeted goals, while also tracking and reporting progress to complete specific goals and projects. In the Spring of 2023, Kai directed enhancements to the Nebraska Leadership Society including a rebranding, the introduction of new recognition levels, and enhanced member benefits to better serve the generous supporters of Nebraska Athletics.

Kai came to Nebraska from Tulane, where he served as the Associate AD for Development. He oversaw the Green Wave Club and Ticket Office, while creating the departmental fundraising and revenue generation strategy and setting annual goals. He also led the department’s fundraising effort by securing significant gift commitments for department priorities, including the Slatten Family Strength Center and Don & Lora Peters Academic Center renovations. Kai joined Tulane in March of 2017 to lead the day-to-day operations of the athletics annual fund including donor relations, stewardship and fundraising initiatives. The Green Wave Club’s membership and donations grew to record highs, under Kai’s leadership. In 2019, Kai led a comprehensive effort to refine Tulane’s priority seating model in Yulman Stadium, Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse and Greer Field at Turchin Stadium.

Prior to Tulane, Kai served as the Assistant Director of Campaigns for the University of Tennessee. His primary role was identifying, cultivating and soliciting major gifts to benefit the athletics programs. During his term, the Tennessee Fund reached record years in annual giving, sold out of season tickets at Neyland Stadium and surpassed a three-year campaign goal of $147.5 million.

Kai earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University and a Master of Science degree from Kansas State University. Tyler and his wife, Caitlin, have two children - Harrison and Liam. Kai was born in Pender, Neb and raised in Urbandale, Iowa.

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Brenden Stai joined Nebraska Athletics in July of 2018 as a Director of Development. As a member of the Huskers Athletic Fund staff Stai is responsible for fostering relationships with donors in the state of Nebraska and the western part of the United States. Prior to his current role, Stai spent nine years as a private business owner and has had a real estate license since his playing days in the NFL.

A native of Yorba Linda, Calif., Stai has a deep connection with Nebraska as he was recruited to play football by Tom Osborne. Stai started his Husker career in 1990 and left after his senior season in 1994 as a national champion and consensus first-team All-American offensive lineman. Stai was a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1994 and spent five years with the Steelers. He was a member of their 1995 AFC Championship team that went on to play in Super Bowl XXX. Stai produced an eight-year NFL career that included stops in Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Detroit and Washington.

Stai graduated from Nebraska in 1994 with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in business. Brenden and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Christina and Brianna, and one son, Bryce, who is a defensive lineman at Ohio.

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Mattie Fowler Burkhardt was hired in February of 2017 as the Development Operations Director. Burkhardt was promoted to Senior Director of Development Operations in July of 2018 and again to Assistant AD - Annual Giving in January of 2022.

In her current role, Burkhardt leads the day-to-day operations of the annual fund within the athletics department including donor relations, fundraising initiatives, premium seating and hospitality, scholarship endowments, planned giving and the N Club. She also serves as the secondary sport administrator for Women’s Basketball.

Burkhardt is an active member of Women Leaders in College Sports and a 2020 graduate of the Institute for Administrative Advancement. Burkhardt is also in her ninth year as a TeamMates mentor.

A four-time team captain on Nebraska's softball team, the 2015-16 Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year, and a 2016 first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, Burkhardt graduated from UNL in May of 2015 with a bachelor's degree in business administration as a finance major and math minor. The Tucson, Ariz., native graduated with her MBA and a specialization in finance in May of 2017.

Mattie and her husband, Nick, welcomed their son, Beck, in the spring of 2022.

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Larisa Brockman joined the Nebraska Athletics Department in July of 2023 as the Director of Premium Seating and Hospitality. Prior to joining Nebraska Athletics, Brockman worked alongside the Huskers Athletic Fund team serving as the Hospitality Manager for the Huskers since January 2022 as an affiliate with REVELxp.

Brockman continues to oversee premium seating and hospitality for the suites and club areas in Memorial Stadium, The Bob Devaney Sports Center, and Pinnacle Bank Arena for Nebraska Athletics. Brockman works closely with the development team to ensure Husker fans have the best game day experiences.

Brockman has extensive experience working in premium seating and hospitality spaces with both REVELxp and Pinnacle Bank Arena. During her time with REVELxp, Brockman executed the highest level of service for Husker premium areas and was selected to manage the suites and pregame VIP experiences for the Big 10 Football Championship in 2022 as well as the Big 10 Men’s Basketball Tournaments in 2022 & 2023. At Pinnacle Bank Arena Brockman served as the Premium Services and Catering Supervisor and coordinated onsite hospitality operations for the Husker Basketball teams, concerts and conventions, in addition to overseeing staff in the premium seating areas of the arena.

Brockman earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Tourism & Event Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2015 and is proud to work at her alma mater in her current role.

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Ian Ousley joined the Nebraska Athletic Department as Director of Development in June of 2022.

Ousley is responsible for fostering relationships with donors in the state of Nebraska and the Great Lakes region and securing gift commitments from Huskers supporters for capital projects, endowments, planned gifts and current-use funds.

Ousley comes to Nebraska after previously serving as Assistant Director of Development, Major Gifts at Penn State's Smeal College of Business for four years in 2018-2022. He was responsible for the major gifts fundraising efforts in Western Pennsylvania, Arizona and portions of the Midwest. He also led a comprehensive redesign of the unit's Giving Day strategy, resulting in successive records in participation and donations. During his tenure, the Smeal College raised record-breaking support that totaled over $95 million as part of the successful $2.2 billion university-wide campaign, A Greater Penn State.

Before Penn State, Ousley was a Development & Operations Coordinator for the Army A Club in 2015-2016 at Army West Point, where a record-breaking $5.6 million in annual support was raised during his time with the Black Knights. He also served as an Athletics Development Graduate Assistant at Ohio in 2016-2018 and assisted in producing a record total in annual contributions.

A member of the Nebraska wrestling program in 2011-15, Ousley graduated from Nebraska with a bachelor's degree in nutrition, exercise and health science and obtained a pair of master's degrees in business administration and sport administration from Ohio.

The Saginaw, Mich., native married former Husker swimmer Ciara Jenkins. The couple lives in Lincoln with their two dogs and one cat.

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Samantha Rehurek joined the Nebraska Athletic Department as a Director of Donor Events & Stewardship in June of 2022.

Rehurek is responsible for managing all special events, stewardship activities, marketing and social media strategies and external and internal communication.

Prior to Nebraska, Rehurek led the planning and facilitated the execution of conferences and events for the Arbor Day Foundation.

Rehurek is the head coach of the lone high school girl's lacrosse team in Lincoln, the Lincoln Liberty Lacrosse Club.

Rehurek earned her bachelor's degree in hospitality management from Nebraska, with an emphasis in event coordination, customer service and marketing and a minor in leadership and communications. Samantha and her husband, Alex live in Lincoln with their two dogs.

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Jenni Puchalla joined Nebraska Athletics in 2009. She currently serves as the Development & Ticketing Services Manager. In her current role, she works with donors and season ticket holders on a daily basis, while supervising the student-workers in the Development and Ticketing Office.

Originally from Norfolk, Neb., Puchalla earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Nebraska. She and her husband Russ have two sons.

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Katie Glover joined the Nebraska Athletic Department as the Assistant Director of Annual Giving in June of 2022.

Glover provides assistance in growing Huskers Athletic Fund membership and overall annual fund support to Nebraska Athletics. Glover is also responsible for the creation and execution of all Huskers Athletic Fund correspondence that outlines the giving opportunities for current and prospective donors while creating awareness of the need for financial support.

Prior to Nebraska, Glover was an athletic academic advising graduate assistant for the LAKER Academic Success Center at Grand Valley State University. Here, Glover provided academic and personal skill development counseling to student-athletes and developed and implemented learning strategies to foster their academic development.

A native of Sioux City, Iowa, Glover was a member of the women's soccer team at Briar Cliff, where she served as a team captain for two seasons. Glover earned her bachelor's degree in business administration and sports management with a minor in legal studies from Briar Cliff University in 2020. Glover obtained her M.Ed. with an emphasis in college student affairs-leadership from Grand Valley State in 2022.

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Kyle Bollig joined the Nebraska Athletic Department as an Assistant Director of Leadership Gifts in July of 2022.

Bollig is responsible for advancing relationships with Husker supporters across the country, to secure gift commitments for capital projects, endowments and current-use funds.

Prior to Nebraska, Bollig served as Assistant Director of Development for the Green Wave Club at Tulane. In his role, Bollig coordinated priority seating renewal efforts and the execution of the department's 24-hour Giving Day.

Before Tulane, Bollig worked as an Alumni Engagement graduate assistant for the College of Business and an External Operations graduate assistant for the athletic department at Ohio. As a student at Kansas, he served as a student worker for three years in equipment services for Kansas Athletics.

A native of Olathe, Kan., Bollig received his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Kansas in 2019. Bollig earned master's degrees in business administration and sports administration from Ohio in 2021.

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Lydia Granahan joined the Nebraska Athletics Department in July of 2023 as the Assistant Director of Premium Seating and Hospitality. Prior to joining Nebraska Athletics, Granahan worked alongside the Huskers Athletic Fund team serving as the Assistant Hospitality Manager for the Huskers since August 2022 as an affiliate with REVELxp

Granahan continues to oversee the premium seating hospitality for Husker Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Wrestling and Gymnastics. Granahan works closely with the Huskers Athletic Fund development team to ensure the best game day experience for Husker fans.

Prior to joining the HAF team, Granahan interned at Thomson Reuters and the Academy of Country Music in the events department. While in this role Granahan managed riders and contracts, credentials and served as a production assistant for the ACM Awards and the ACM Honors. Granahan continues to assist the ACM in these programs as needed.

While earning her master’s degree, Granahan worked at Achieve Physical Therapy – Sports Training in Omaha, Nebraska as an administrative assistant overseeing internal and external office operations including managing community events and company marketing.

Granahan earned both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Event Management from Iowa State University in 2020 and 2021 respectively.

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