Tag: Big Ten Media Days 2024

Rhule explains decision to hire John Butler as defensive backs coach

One of the offseason surprises for Nebraska football was the sudden resignation of defensive backs coach Evan Cooper.

One of the off-season surprises for Nebraska football was the sudden resignation of defensive backs coach Evan Cooper. At the time of his departure, Cooper was entering his second year as the Huskers’ defensive backs coach. The school has said that Cooper resigned for personal reasons.

Head coach Matt Rhule quickly hired John Butler as the new defensive back coach. Butler joins the Cornhuskers after holding the same position with the Buffalo Bills since 2022. He stepped down from his post with the Bills in February 2024, citing a desire to become a defensive coordinator. Rhule said that he’s excited to bring in someone with NFL experience.

John’s a guy I’ve known a long time, and I think any time that you can hire someone on your staff as a position coach who’s been a coordinator, they come in with another set of eyes. I’ve had a chance to coach against John when I was at Temple, he was at Penn State. Obviously in the NFL, he was in Buffalo.

Butler also coached with the Houston Texans from 2014 to 2017. Rhule said that the new coach’s track record is already paying dividends on the recruiting trail.

Just think about in recruiting, for those guys who want to go to the NFL and they’re talking to us, you know, I’ve been in those draft rooms, but John’s coached Micah Hyde, he’s coached Jordan Poyer. He’s coached top five secondaries. It was unfortunate we had a change that late in the year, but we wouldn’t have gotten John any earlier.

He also talked about the process of hiring Butler and how he will work with the new coaching staff.

He was at a point where he was ready to get back in and start coaching. It just so happened I was on vacation on the beach two towns away from where he was, so it was all pretty fortuitous. We sat down. Tony White is one of the best coaches in college football. He’s an amazing defensive coordinator. Terrance Knighton is an amazing defensive line coach. Rob Dvoracek, excellent young linebacker coach. I think John will bring some experience, a second set of eyes, and a guy that the players can trust will make them better.

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What advice does Matt Rhule wish he received before his first season in the Big Ten?

Everyone has an opinion on Nebraska football.

Everyone has an opinion on Nebraska football. Head coach Matt Rhule confirmed as much during his press conference at the Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday.

Rhule also talked about getting help from some of Nebraska football’s legends, like Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osborne, who shared his advice on Memorial Stadium’s wild weather.

One of the things about being at Nebraska, you do get a lot of advice. Coach Osborne is there all the time to help. Coach Solich is there to help. Coach Osborne tried to warn me about the weather. He tried to warn me about the wind. And I heard it, but it was until it was 30 miles an hour in my face, I was like, oh, Coach Osborne wasn’t lying.

When discussing his biggest regrets from last season, Rhule said that he failed to adjust to the crowd in college football games as compared to his time in the NFL.

I think the biggest thing I regret from last year was, when you’re in pro football, it’s kind of quiet, and there aren’t bands and things like that. The crowd isn’t — and we started our first two games last year on the road in hostile environments. Minnesota, they did a great job. They had a gold out for their first game. So just getting readjusted to the crowd noise and the passion of the fans in the Big Ten, the atmospheres we’re going to have to go into. We have to be better on the road, so I wish I would have taken that to heart and gotten that advice.

He also shared the special guests who make appearances at football practices from time to time.

But I am so blessed. I get to coach college football, and some days I’ve got George Darlington, legendary secondary coach. I might have Tommie Frazier or Eric Crouch. I might have Coach Osborne there. I might have Coach Solich there. It’s a football coach’s dream.

Matt Rhule enters his second season as Nebraska’s head coach after finishing his first campaign with a record of 5-7. The Huskers will kick off the 2024 season on August 31, when they welcome UTEP to Memorial Stadium.

A closer look of Nebraska football at Big Ten Media Days

Matt Rhule opened his availability by talking about the importance of having, not only a good staff but a veratran staff as well.

Nebraska’s head football coach met with the press at the Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday. Matt Rhule opened his availability by talking about the importance of having not only a good staff but a veteran staff as well.

I think what we’ll see in this new era of college football is the teams that can stay together and have veteran staff, veteran teams are going to be really good, and I think they’ve given us a chance to have a really good team this year. So grateful to inform them. It’s been a really exciting time for us.

He also highlighted the hiring of new athletic director Troy Dannen and the overall performance of the school’s athletic department for the 2023-24 school year.

It’s great to be a Husker. Troy Dannen coming in and taking over has brought a positive energy to the athletic department. Five Big Ten Championships this year in the athletic department. Multiple athletes representing us in the Olympics. Finished 22nd in the all sports standings.

Scrolling below, you can find photos of Nebraska’s appearance at Big Ten Media Days.