Trev Alberts reacts to NCAA Tournament matchups with Texas A&M, Nebraska

When former Nebraska Cornhuskers turned current Texas A&M Aggies athletic director Trev Alberts left Lincoln, Nebraska, he likely figured it would be some time before he crossed paths with his former university home. But as fate would have it, he will get to see them much sooner rather than later in both NCAA basketball tournaments.

Win the men’s and women’s tournament brackets were revealed, Albert was treated to not one but two first-round matchups between Nebraska and Texas A&M. Recently, the Aggies athletic director spoke on the serendipitous double crown meeting between the two universities.

“I will say that it appears a little too coincidental to me. But no, I’m really happy for Amy Williams; I’m really happy for Fred Hoiberg. I spent three years working with them and just trying to support them. Those basketball programs have achieved some some really significant things,” said Alberts.

“I’m also really, really happy for Coach [Joni] Taylor and Buzz Williams, right. I’ve had a chance as I started to look at this job really, dive in; I’ve watched a lot of press conferences. I’ve watched coach Taylor. [I’m] just really impressed. Those are four really outstanding human beings, and four great teams. So it’ll be a little surreal and interesting to watch them compete. But the beauty is I can’t lose.”

Although Alberts is now in College Station, Texas, the bonds that he created and developed in Nebraska are still strong. And since he helped with the development of the current men’s and women’s basketball programs at Nebraska, the way he sees it, it is a win for him no matter who comes out victorious in the two first-round matchups.

Alberts explains the challenge of leaving Nebraska

Alberts also explained the challenge he had in leaving Nebraska during the press conference.

“Very difficult and emotional, frankly,” Alberts said. “That was a difficult part of this whole transition. I wasn’t looking to leave. [I’ve] been associated with that university for a long, long time, and as I said in the previous press conference, that’s a place that changed my life. Other than my faith and my family, most everything I have today, I owe to the University of Nebraska.”

Trev Alberts has, as he noted, had a long connection with Nebraska. He played for the football team’s Blackshirt defense under legendary head coach Tom Osborne where he was an All-American who had his number retired by the program. Following his playing career, he entered an administrative role, becoming the school’s athletic director in 2021.

“So, very challenging, emotional, and difficult. But at 54 years old, you see opportunities, and Texas A&M is a pretty remarkable place with a remarkable trajectory with remarkable leadership. So, as you think about the future and you think about some of these evolving changes, much of which is yet undefined, right? We don’t know where this is going,” Alberts said.

“But part of what is really intriguing to me is, I think, this is a place under General [Mark] Welsh’s leadership that’s going to help to define what the future looks like. And that’s really exciting to me.”

The Texas A&M job opened up after the school’s previous athletic director, Ross Bjork, left for Ohio State.