Matt Rhule updates Nebraska transition under new coordinators

The Nebraska Cornhuskers are looking to take a leap forward in 2025. That’s after an offseason where head coach Matt Rhule had to make a change at all three coordinator spots.

Rhule addressed those moves at Big Ten Media Days, sharing where they’re at in the transition. That, notably, starts with former head coach Dana Holgorsen, who is being tasked with sparking the offense.

“I’m thrilled with all three guys,” Matt Rhule said. “The great thing about Dana is he’s been a head coach. He knows the challenges of being a head coach. I always feel like when guys have been a head coach and go back to being an assistant, their idea of — their comprehension of loyalty to the program, to the head coach changes. It’s so hard to sit there as the head coach and make these decisions and have everyone be, like, we should do this, we should do that. So, Dana is elite in that. I think my trust in him where I bring a lot to him. I sit in his office and say, ‘What do you think we should do here? What do you think we should do here?'”

Dana Holgorsen came to Nebraska in 2024 and ended up replacing Marcus Satterfield late in the season as the offensive coordinator. He’d previously been the head coach at West Virginia and Houston, and he comes from an air raid background. Now, he’s set to assist Matt Rhule and try to turn Dylan Raiola into one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Ten.

Another key change is the special teams coordinator. Mike Ekeler is taking over there, hoping to fix a unit that has struggled in recent years, even dating back to before the Rhule tenure, for Nebraska.

“That just brings a ton of energy and belief,” Rhule said. “I think our guys believe so much in what we’re going to do special teams-wise.”

Defensive coordinator is a change born out of success. Prior coordinator, Tony White, left for the same role at Florida State. That’s after the Cornhuskers finished 2024 18th in total defense, giving up 317.9 yards per game. Nebraska was also 17th in scoring defense, giving up 19.5 points per game. So, this has been a good unit under White. In his place, Matt Rhule promoted John Butler, who coached the secondary last season.

“I think John, the great thing is he was in the system,” Rhule said. “So, he knows what we’ve done, but he has so much knowledge from his team in the National Football League. He had the No. 1 secondary in Buffalo for five years. His ability now, it’s been an adjustment coming to college. You’re not just coaching pros now. You’re training guys. Training and teaching guys, he had a chance to do that as a position coach, and now as a coordinator. I think he’s done a wonderful job. He’s meticulous. He’s got some great guys there with him — he’s got Phil Snow. A guy people don’t talk about enough is Rob Dvoracek. He’s been with us every stop. Rob is going to be a coordinator someday. He’s a special coach, but he knows also the history of everything.”

Beyond the coordinators, Matt Rhule remains excited about the entire Nebraska staff. They’re such a strong unit, according to Rhule, that it’s made his life much easier.

“We just have great people, and I’m blessed to — Corey Campbell, Kristin Coggin, the people — Mitch [Cholewinski], sports science. There are some days I walk in,” Rhule said. “And Mitch, I don’t know what my job is, other than to recruit and go be a part of the players’ lives. So, the coordinators are going to do a great job. I’m very pleased.”

Rhule and Nebraska are going to put their new staff to the test early. The Cornhuskers open the season on August 28th with a neutral site game against the Cincinnati Bearcats out of the Big 12.