Fred Hoiberg updates status after recent heart procedure to replace pacemaker

At Big Ten Media Days in Rosemont, Illinois, Thursday, Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg shared an update on his status after undergoing a recent heart procedure to replace his pacemaker.

“I feel really good,” Hoiberg said, via Big Ten Network. “It was a procedure on Friday to replace my pacemaker. I went in there, and it was about a 30-minute procedure. Biggest thing right now is just being careful. I’m coaching a lot on the sidelines, trying not to get hit. I just can’t get hit in the area where they did the procedure. But, overall, I’m feeling great.”

Hoiberg was born with an abnormal aortic valve, a heart condition that was discovered during a life insurance physical, and that prematurely ended his NBA playing career. Hoiberg, 51, also had surgeries in 2005 and 2015. Last week’s procedure, however, marked the second time he’s had his pacemaker replaced.

Hoiberg, who starred as a player at Iowa State before enjoying 10 years in the NBA, is entering his sixth season at the helm of the Cornhuskers’ men’s basketball program. He’s also coming off his most successful Huskers campaign yet.

Nebraska went 23-11 last year, finishing tied for third in the Big Ten table. Most notably, the Huskers made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013-14. Although they bowed out in the first round to Texas A&M, their return to The Dance was one of the better stories of the 2024-25 college basketball season.

This year, however, Nebraska is tied for 12th in the preseason Big Ten Media Poll, which is put together annually by The Columbus Dispatch and The Indianapolis Star. The Huskers look different, namely without established guards Keisei Tominaga and C.J. Wilcher.

That said, Nebraska did bring back three of its top-five scorers: guard Brice Williams and frontcourt standouts Rienk Mast and Juwan Gary.

Plus, the Huskers added seven players from the transfer portal. That group includes four players who were already in the Big Ten: guard Connor Essegian (Wisconsin), forward Berke Buyuktuncel (UCLA), center Braxton Meah (Washington) and guard Gavin Griffiths (Rutgers).

The last time Nebraska made the NCAA Tournament back-to-back years was 1993-94. The Huskers are still searching for their first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.

Hoiberg will try to get them there, and he’ll be leading his group in good health after another successful pacemaker replacement procedure.