As one of the state’s top elected officials stands trial accused of a Class IV Felony and facing up to two years in prison, legendary NU football coach Tom Osborne is on the sidelines listed as a possible witness.

NU Regent Jack Stark, a sports psychologist and part of Osborne’s three national championships in the 1990’s, is accused of witness tampering in a three-year-old sexual assault case.

 

The 76-year-old Stark reportedly told a potential witness not to testify in exchange for job favors moving forward.

As he left the Douglas County Courthouse today, [view our video above] Stark was arguably reluctant to be photographed.

According to court records, Osborne is one of 11 who will possibly testify on Stark’s behalf. NCN spoke with Stark's lawyer:

NCN’s Joe Jordan: Are you going to call Tom Osborne as a witness?

Mike Coyle, Stark’s Attorney: As the trial goes on, we’re going to continue to make some decisions about who witnesses will be. So, that’s kind of a game-time decision.

NCN: Would that be as a character witness?

Coyle: We’re still trying to decide the strategy on that but I believe that we’ll make a kind of a game-time decision on that as the evidence comes in.

Stark was elected to the 8-member University of Nebraska Board of Regents in 2020. He represents parts of Douglas and Sarpy Counties.