Pillen appoints former Huskers fullback, physical therapist to NU Board of Regents

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, right, shakes hands with newly appointed University of Nebraska Regent Joel Makovicka of Omaha. Feb. 3, 2026. (Courtesy of Nebraska Governor’s Office)

LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen on Tuesday appointed Joel Makovicka, a former fullback and Academic All-American for the Huskers, to an Omaha-based vacancy on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Makovicka played for the Huskers between 1994 and 1998, including three national championship teams under former Huskers football coach Tom Osborne. He played for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals between 1999 and 2002 and later went on to coach at the University of Virginia.

The appointment is through Jan. 7, 2027. Pillen’s office could not say whether Makovicka would run in the special election this year for the District 4 seat in eastern Douglas County.

“I appreciate Joel’s willingness to step into this role, and I have great confidence that he will serve the board well, and with the best interests of the university in mind,” Pillen, a former NU regent for 10 years before becoming governor, said in a statement.

A biography for Makovicka via the Huskers describes the Brainard native as “one of the best fullbacks” in Huskers history who “embodied some of the richest traditions” of the program.

Makovicka succeeds former NU Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, a former deputy county attorney, who resigned Jan. 9. She continues to face a felony drunken driving charge and had faced possible legislative impeachment.

O’Connor has pleaded not guilty to allegations that she caused a May 2025 crash in Omaha while being intoxicated more than four times the legal limit.

Pillen also played for the Huskers under Osborne in the 1970s as a defensive back. Osborne coached for the Huskers between 1973 and 1997. Pillen has proposed making a legislative exception to add Osborne as the only living member of the Nebraska Hall of Fame.

Makovicka earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He went on to earn a doctorate of physical therapy at Creighton University and is president of his own physical therapy practice with locations in Omaha, Lincoln and surrounding areas.

Voters elected O’Connor to a second six-year term in 2024, and they will decide who will complete the remainder of her term through 2030 later this year. Any current officeholders must file by Feb. 17, which would include Makovicka, while nonincumbents have until March 2 to file.

At least four candidates have declared intentions to run. That includes the current University of Nebraska at Omaha student regent and a former UNL student regent.

The primary election is May 12, and the top two vote-getters for the officially nonpartisan race will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.

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