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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Lindsey Freeman joined Nebraska Athletics as a full-time staff member in 2008. She previously served as the Director of Premium Seating & Engagement where she oversaw premium seating operations for football, volleyball, baseball, men's basketball and women's basketball, which included suites, skyline club, sideline club, courtside seats and VIP Seating. She also coordinated Athletic Development special events. Freeman recently moved into a new role as a director of development where her primary role is in fundraising, while meeting and building relationships with Nebraska’s donor base.

Before becoming a full-time staff member, Freeman was an intern in athletic development and ticketing for nearly two years.

Originally from Lincoln, Neb., Freeman earned her bachelor of science in recreation from the University of South Dakota, where she was also a member of the volleyball team. Freeman was inducted into USD’s Athletic Hall of Fame as the school’s first volleyball player in 2018.

Freeman earned her master's degree in health, physical education and recreation with an emphasis in sports administration from the University of South Dakota in 2006. She is married to Derek Freeman, and the couple has two sons, Brody and Gavin, and one daughter, Blake.

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Marla Grose joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in April of 2017 and is a development officer with Nebraska Athletic Development. Grose primarily works in Omaha, where she grows and fosters relationships with donors who contribute to the athletic department.

Prior to joining the Huskers, Grose worked with the Geis Group for eight years. There she worked with various nonprofit agencies to strengthen and enhance their fund development programs and practices. Grose worked with organizations locally in Omaha, statewide and in the regional area, including Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Illinois. Before working for the Geis Group, Grose was a reporter and anchor at KETV in Omaha. She anchored the weekend morning news and reported on news during the week for the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.

Grose graduated from UNL with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

Marla and her husband, John, have two children, Kennedy and Johnny.

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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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A four-time team captain on Nebraska's softball team and the 2015-16 Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Mattie Fowler joined the athletic department in February of 2017 as the development operations director. Fowler was promoted to Senior Director of Development Operations in July of 2018.

Fowler manages the annual strategic plan and internal/external operations for the Huskers Athletic Fund. She also directs all external marketing and communications strategies for HAF and the N Club.

A four-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar 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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Tierra Williams joined Nebraska Athletics in July of 2018 as the Assistant Director of Development Hospitality, Events & Stewardship. Williams focuses on management of suite hosts on game days and assists with staffing at N Club Events.

Williams came to Nebraska after working as a sales rep at Sandhill’s Publishing.

Williams capped a successful Husker track and field career in 2017. A native of Auburn, Neb., she was a four-time All-American and four-time Big Ten champion. Williams also performed well in the classroom, as she was twice named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and was a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection. For her efforts both on and off the track, she was named the 2016-17 Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year.

Williams graduated in December of 2017 with a degree in child, youth and family studies.

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