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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Ben Murray joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in May of 2021 as the Senior Associate AD for Development. Murray leads the Huskers Athletic Fund, with oversight of Nebraska's development and ticketing operations.

Murray came to Nebraska from West Virginia, where he had been since 2010. Most recently he served as Senior Associate AD for the Mountaineer Athletic Club, where he led all fundraising efforts. At West Virginia, he oversaw the solicitation efforts for a combined total of $100.1 million in production from FY17 to to his departure in 2021, including $6.9 million in completed capital projects - Football Training Room Expansion ($5.5 million), Baseball Operation Building Completion ($750,000), Coliseum Academic Center Renovation ($400,000) and Enhancements to the Aquatic Center and Track Facility ($250,000). Murray developed, managed and led all fundraising efforts for the $100 million, Climbing Higher, athletic facility capital campaign with funds directed towards the Football Operation Center ($55 million), Basketball Coliseum Complex ($35 million), Golf Practice Facility ($5 million) and Gymnastics Practice Facility ($5 million). He managed a personal donor portfolio, securing 43 commitments that has yielded $27.1 million in new dollars from FY17 to 2021, which included six, seven-figure commitments and one, eight-figure commitment. Starting in 2017, his team increased the overall Athletic Endowment from $35 million to $45 million. Murray started at West Virginia as a major gift officer, was promoted to associate athletic director in 2012 and then senior associate athletic director in 2017.

Before moving to Morgantown, Murray was the Director of Athletics Development at Old Dominion from 2006 to 2010. He coordinated, planned and administered the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation annual giving program - ultimately leading the annual fund to a 15% increase in 2007, 27% increase in 2008 and a 28% increase in 2009, totaling $2.45 million raised. He helped increase the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation annual fund membership by 18% in 2007, 22% in 2008 and 37% in 2009, totaling 2,420 members.

Murray started his professional career in August of 2003 as an development intern at James Madison. In June of 2004 he was hired as a development associate and he Identified and solicited prospects to increase membership of the JMU Duke Club in the Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Md., Philadelphia, Pa., and New York, N.Y., regions. Murray joined the UNLV athletic department in January of 2005 as an associate director in the Rebel Athletic Fund. In Las Vegas. He assisted with coordinating, planning and administrating the Rebel Athletic Fund annual giving program, ultimately helping increase donations by 8% in 2005.

Murray graduated from Kansas in 2001 with a degree in sports management and earned in masters in sports administration in 2003.

Ben and his wife, Angela, have three daughters, Mia, Libby and Sadie.

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Garrett Klassy joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in July of 2019 as Senior Deputy AD - External Operations. Klassy oversees all of Nebraska's external units, including ticketing, development, marketing, licensing, communications, creative and emerging media and HuskerVision.

Klassy came to Nebraska from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was named the school’s third Director of Athletics in the Division I era. Klassy led the Flames' athletic department starting in August of 2017. The Flames set records in the classroom in Klassy's first year in Chicago, and in spring 2018, UIC's 336 student-athletes achieved a record-high grade-point average of 3.17.

Klassy also introduced several beneficial partnerships with various industry leaders. He brought in Brett Ledbetter and What Drives Winning, teamed with Chicago-based 4FRONT on a groundbreaking partnership, entered into an agreement with The Aspire Group to manage ticket sales and service and struck a new five-year accord with adidas, which serves as the official footwear, apparel and accessory brand of the Flames. Klassy also oversaw the rebranding and launch of the Flames Athletic Fund, which helps to support five major UIC Athletics initiatives: scholarships, nutrition, weight room, training room and student leadership.

A native of New Glarus, Wis., Klassy graduated from Wisconsin in 1998 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication arts with an emphasis on public address. He is married to Lindsay Klassy.

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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.

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.

Tyler earned a bachelor's in event management from Iowa State University and a master's in higher education from Kansas State University. Tyler and his wife, Caitlin, welcomed their first-born son, Harrison, in the fall of 2020. Tyler was born in Pender, Neb., but claims Urbandale, Iowa, at his hometown.

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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 was hired in February of 2017 as the Development Operations Director. Fowler was promoted to Senior Director of Development Operations in July of 2018.

In her current role, Fowler leads the day-to-day operations of the annual fund within the athletics department including donor relations, stewardship, fundraising initiatives, premium seating and hospitality, scholarship endowments, and the N Club. She also directs all external marketing and communications strategies for HAF and the N Club.

Fowler is an active member of Women Leaders in College Sports and a 2020 graduate of the Institute for Administrative Advancement. Fowler is also in her seventh 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, Fowler 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.

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Derek Freeman was promoted to Senior Director of Development Analytics & Technology in July of 2018. Freeman is responsible for developing and maintaining data systems to account for donations to the athletic department. He also oversees the allocation and monthly reconciliation of the annual contributions to the athletic department.

A native of Lincoln, Freeman earned a bachelor of science 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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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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