BREAKING NEWS: Tom Osborne of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Invests $2.6 Million to Transform Tennessee House into Shelter for Homeless Youth
May 4, 2025 | By Rachel Lenard, Field Correspondent
In an unexpected act of generosity and vision, former Nebraska Cornhuskers coach and College Football Hall of Famer Tom Osborne has invested $3.6 million into converting a dilapidated farmhouse in rural Tennessee into a state-of-the-art shelter for homeless youth. The move, which shocked both sports fans and nonprofit leaders alike, is already being hailed as one of the most significant private contributions to youth homelessness in the region in the past decade.
The story begins quietly, with Osborne making a private trip to Rutherford County, Tennessee, in the fall of 2024. According to sources close to the former coach, Osborne had been traveling the country under the radar since 2022, seeking to understand the deeper issues affecting young people beyond the stadium lights and athletic scholarships.
“Coach Osborne always believed in building character, not just athletes,” said former Cornhuskers quarterback Cody Green, who now runs a youth development nonprofit in Omaha. “He didn’t just want to fund something; he wanted to fix something.”
What he found during his time in Tennessee moved him deeply.
From Game Plans to Life Plans
The turning point reportedly came when Osborne visited a small, overburdened youth center in Murfreesboro. The center, which operated out of a two-room trailer, was serving nearly 50 teens with nowhere else to go. He spent the day shadowing the staff, talking to kids, and learning how many of them had aged out of the foster system, been displaced by the opioid crisis, or simply fallen through the cracks of a strained social safety net.
One of those teens was 17-year-old Lucas Ray, who had been living in his car for almost a year after fleeing an abusive stepfather. “I didn’t know who he was at first,” Lucas recalled. “He just sat down next to me with a sandwich and asked what I wanted to do with my life. I told him I wanted to study mechanics and own my own garage one day. He didn’t say much—just nodded like he believed I could.”
Two weeks later, Osborne made an anonymous offer on a 12-acre property just outside Smyrna, Tennessee. The Victorian-style home had stood empty since 2010 and was considered a teardown by most real estate agents. But Osborne saw something different.
A Home for Second Chances
Osborne’s vision for the property—now dubbed Legacy House—goes beyond shelter. Blueprints released with this morning’s announcement reveal plans for eight residential suites, a commercial kitchen, classroom space, therapy rooms, and even a small indoor gym with Cornhuskers memorabilia on the walls.
“This isn’t just about putting a roof over someone’s head,” Osborne said in a statement. “It’s about creating a place where young people can heal, dream, and learn how to build a life they believe in.”
Legacy House will operate as a transitional living center, offering residents ages 14–21 up to two years of housing, job training, counseling, and education support. The shelter will partner with local community colleges and trade schools, offering fast-track enrollment programs and apprenticeships in areas like automotive tech, construction, culinary arts, and digital media.
“He told me he wanted the kids to have something like football gave him—structure, family, and the feeling that someone’s in your corner,” said Valerie Carter, who will serve as Legacy House’s executive director. “He used to draw up game plans. Now he’s drawing up life plans.”
A Quiet Legacy Takes Center Stage
Though Tom Osborne is best known for his three national championships and decades of coaching brilliance at Nebraska, those close to him say his greatest victories have come off the field. After retiring from coaching, Osborne founded the TeamMates Mentoring Program, which has matched tens of thousands of students with caring adult mentors across the Midwest. His work in youth development earned him multiple humanitarian awards, though he often deflected the praise.
“He’s the most humble man I’ve ever known,” said former linebacker and longtime friend Michael Booker. “He believes success isn’t about what you achieve—it’s about who you lift up along the way.”
That belief is clearly visible in the design of Legacy House. Even the furniture is being hand-built by apprentices from a Nashville trade school. The walls will be painted in warm, calming tones, and residents will each have a say in the décor of their own living spaces—a small touch, but one Osborne insisted upon.
“The first decision many of these kids will get to make is what color their room is,” Carter explained. “It might sound simple, but it matters. It says: This is yours. You belong here.”
Rural Tennessee Embraces the Mission
Local officials, initially skeptical about what they assumed was a “celebrity charity drop-in,” are now full-throated supporters of the project. Mayor Kelly Burton of Smyrna called Legacy House “a transformative gift to the community.”
“We’ve struggled to get the attention and resources we need,” Burton said. “Coach Osborne didn’t just write a check—he rolled up his sleeves and asked how he could help.”
The ripple effects have already begun. A nearby church donated an adjacent lot for use as a community garden. Local businesses have pledged to provide internships and part-time jobs. And volunteers have signed up in droves to help prepare the house for its grand opening, scheduled for October 2025.
One More Drive Downfield
At 88 years old, Osborne says this may be his last major project—but he’s determined to see it through. “I’ve coached a lot of great young men, but I’ve also seen the ones who didn’t get the chance,” he said. “If we can be that chance, even for a few, then it’s worth it.”
As the news spreads, so too does the inspiration. Former players, coaches, and even rival teams have begun pledging support. A fundraising campaign launched this morning has already brought in an additional $280,000.
In a world where sports headlines often revolve around scandal and ego, Tom Osborne’s quiet crusade for vulnerable youth is a powerful reminder that real greatness is measured not by the games you win—but by the lives you change.