Tom Osborne

College Football Hall of Fame

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Coach Tom Osborne, Hall of Fame football coach, made history with his record as Head Coach of the University of Nebraska Champion Cornhuskers. His most visible post-coaching service was to his beloved country where he served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from Nebraska’s 3rd congressional district from 2000 to 2006..

Widely known for his leadership, integrity, honor and compassion, Osborne has poured time and effort into building a unique mentoring program. The TeamMates program, founded by Tom and his wife, Nancy, in 1991, provides support and encouragement to school-aged youth with the goal of seeing children graduate from high school and pursue a post-secondary education.

Many will always remember Osborne for his legendary service to the program as a football coach. The Cornhuskers mounted a 255-49-3 record under Osborne, good for a winning percentage of .836. The 255 victories are the sixth-most all-time among major college football coaches while the winning percentage ranks fifth all-time.

His achievements were so highly regarded that the National Football Foundation waived its three-year waiting period so that he could be inducted into its Hall of Fame in December of 1998. He is one of only four coaches in history to have the mandatory three-year waiting period waived.

Osborne’s coaching career came to a poetic end in the 1998 Orange Bowl. In his final game, the Huskers defeated No. 3 Tennessee, 42-17, giving him a share of a third national title in his final four seasons. The victory left Osborne as the first coach in college football history to retire as a reigning national champion, along with the nation’s best active winning percentage.

Osborne’s last five Nebraska teams put together the best five-year run in collegiate football history with an amazing 60-3 record, including five consecutive 11-win seasons. Osborne-coached Nebraska teams captured 13 conference crowns, including six of his last seven seasons on the sideline. All 25 of his Husker teams won at least nine games and went to a bowl, while 15 won 10-or-more games.

Tom Osborne's Honors and Accomplishments

• University of Nebraska Head Coach (1973-97)
• Three National Titles (1994-95-97)
• 1999 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
• U.S. Congressman (Nebraska's Third District, Three Terms)
• Nebraska Athletic Director (Oct. 16, 2007-present)
• Nebraska, Ph.D. in Educational Psychology 1965
• Nebraska, M.A. in Educational Psychology 1963
• Hastings College, B.A. in History 1959

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