Maine hiring Nebraska analyst Steve Cooper as offensive coordinator

Maine is hiring Nebraska senior offensive analyst Steve Cooper as offensive coordinator, On3’s Matt Zenitz confirmed. The news was first reported by The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Cooper has previous FCS coaching experience, working as a graduate assistant and then in several offensive staff positions at Portland State, his alma mater. Cooper eventually rose to being the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Vikings.

He came to Nebraska to work under former head coach Scott Frost in 2018. He spent five seasons in Lincoln from 2018 through 2022. He worked as both an offensive quality control analyst and eventually rose to being a senior offensive analyst.

Nebraska never took off under Frost, but the offense was generally not the issue. In each season under Frost with Cooper also there, the Cornhuskers averaged more than 300 yards per game. In only one season did Nebraska average fewer than 350 yards per game during that five-year run.

Cooper played wide receiver during his playing career at Portland State prior to joining the staff as a graduate assistant coach.

Matt Rhule adds two more NFL coaches to his Nebraska staff

Matt Rhule is quickly putting together his inaugural staff for the 2023 college football. The new Nebraska headman has signed two of his former Carolina Panthers assistants to his coaching staff, Panthers insider Joe Person reports.

Rob Dvoracek will be the new linebackers coach, and Garret McGuire will be the Cornhuskers wide receivers coach. Dvoracek is finishing up his second season with the Panthers and played for Rhule at Temple. McGuire also played for Rhule at Baylor, who is the 24-year-old son of Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire. 

Rhule is putting together a reputable, young group of coaches together in Lincoln as he looks to revive the Nebraska football program back into national relevancy.