In a quietly monumental shake-up that blends family legacy, fresh perspective, and high-level analytics, the Nebraska men’s basketball program officially unveiled a trio of staffing changes that hint at a calculated vision for the program’s next chapter. And at the heart of it all? A familiar surname that resonates far beyond the hardwood in Lincoln.
On Monday, head coach Fred Hoiberg announced several key updates to his 2025-26 staff—including the official addition of his son, Charlie Hoiberg, as a graduate manager. In a move that’s already stirring intrigue across Big Ten circles, Charlie joins a program where his twin brother, Sam Hoiberg, currently plays as a rising guard, and where the family’s basketball pedigree continues to shape the team’s culture from the inside out.
But this isn’t just a feel-good nepotism tale—it’s a calculated investment in continuity, character, and future leadership.
Charlie Hoiberg: Legacy with a Leadership Edge
Though Charlie may share the Hoiberg name, he arrives with his own resume of credentials and behind-the-scenes acumen. A product of Lincoln Pius X High School and a Magna Cum Laude graduate from TCU, Charlie cut his teeth in the competitive crucible of the Big 12, serving as a student manager under seasoned Horned Frogs head coach Jamie Dixon. There, he didn’t just observe elite basketball—he contributed to it.
Over the last two seasons, Charlie assisted with practice planning, game preparation, and film analysis, playing a quiet but critical role in TCU’s march to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He even interned with the Nebraska basketball program in the summer of 2024, a sign that his transition back to Lincoln has long been in the making.
Now pursuing a graduate degree in educational administration and higher education, Charlie will bring a rare combination of analytical discipline and family-rooted familiarity to his new role—bridging the tactical and emotional aspects of team development in ways few others could.
Fun fact: The Hoiberg basketball lineage runs deeper still. Charlie’s older brother, Jack Hoiberg, currently works for the San Antonio Spurs organization, solidifying the Hoibergs as a basketball family with deep professional tentacles.
New Voice from Ohio: Braden Grant Joins as Graduate Manager
Another intriguing addition to the Husker bench is Braden Grant, a 6’2″ guard and Ohio native who brings a unique blend of player insight and administrative lineage to the staff. Grant spent his collegiate playing years between Wright State and Cedarville University, appearing in 18 games across four seasons and embodying the gritty, behind-the-scenes effort that often defines unsung heroes of the college game.
But what truly separates Grant from the typical graduate assistant? His pedigree in athletic administration. His father, Bob Grant, served as Athletic Director at Wright State for 16 years, guiding the university through conference realignments, postseason runs, and sweeping athletic reforms.
Now pursuing a master’s in applied sciences at UNL, Braden is poised to carry on that legacy—not just from the sidelines, but as a key contributor to Nebraska’s evolving basketball infrastructure.
Justin Moore: From Grad Manager to Analytics Architect
Rounding out the wave of promotions is Justin Moore, who ascends from graduate manager to Coordinator of Analytics—a role that signals Nebraska’s growing reliance on data-driven basketball IQ.
Moore’s duties will include compiling advanced scouting reports, designing and maintaining playbooks, serving as the program’s primary contact for the NOAH shooting system, and charting real-time game analytics. Crucially, he’ll also team up with Nebraska’s General Manager Luca Virgilio to analyze recruiting prospects, both from high school and the bustling transfer portal landscape.
Moore’s rise is more than a title change—it’s emblematic of Nebraska’s broader shift toward cutting-edge basketball theory, where every possession is measured, and every strategic adjustment is supported by hard data.
A New Look Staff for a Program on the Rise
These internal changes come in the wake of a notable departure: Assistant Coach Adam Howard, who left Lincoln to join Will Wade’s new staff at NC State. In response, Hoiberg acted swiftly, appointing Pat Monaghan—formerly of Wyoming—as the program’s new assistant coach. Monaghan brings an energetic, player-first mentality forged under Sundance Wicks, adding another layer of tactical nuance to a rapidly modernizing staff.
The staff now boasts a balanced blend of experience, youth, and innovation, with returning assistant coaches Nate Loenser and Ernie Zeigler continuing their roles alongside recruiting coordinator Padyn Borders, who stepped up as an on-court coach during Nebraska’s victorious run to the College Basketball Crown Championship in Las Vegas this past April.
A New Era—Or a Family Dynasty in the Making?
With these strategic staff moves, Fred Hoiberg is not just doubling down on loyalty—he’s threading a needle between legacy and logic, between institutional continuity and evolutionary coaching.
Will this new blend of Hoiberg DNA, fresh intellect, and analytic rigor be enough to push Nebraska into a new echelon of Big Ten competitiveness?
Time will tell. But one thing is clear: The Huskers are no longer just assembling a team—they’re building a philosophy.
And it just might run in the family.
