Nebraska Athletic Director provides update on coaching search

Albert’s discussed the current state of the program on Thursday morning!

Athletic Director Trev Alberts held a “Big Red Breakfast” in Omaha on Thursday morning to talk to the Husker faithful about the search for a head coach and the program’s current state heading into the final eight games of the 2022 season.
The A.D. told the pact crowd that there is no pre-ordained candidate for the vacant position. He continues to talk to candidates but is also talking to coaches and administrators at programs across the country to gain insight into the current methods and philosophies that are used to build modern college football programs.
Sam McKewon, the sports editor and columnist at the Omaha World-Herald, stated that Alberts said Nebraska would “need to be the premier development program in the Midwest” and that the “program lost its way in an absolute commitment to elite development.” Rumors continue to circulate about potential candidates the Huskers may consider hiring for the current vacancy.
Below is a list of names connected to the coaching search in one way, shape, or form. Scroll through it, and let us know what you think.

Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander Fired

Special Teams Coordinator Bill Busch will take over the DC job!

Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander was relieved of his duties on Sunday afternoon by interim head coach Mickey Joseph.

“We appreciate Erik and the work and dedication he has given to our football program. At this time, I feel that it is in the best interest of the Nebraska Football program to take the leadership of the defense in another direction and decided Bill Busch will take over as defensive coordinator.”

The decision comes after Nebraska gave up 49 points and 580 yards in Saturday’s 49-14 loss to Oklahoma. In back-to-back weeks the team surrendered 94 points and 1,222 yards. Chinander had been the defensive coordinator in Lincoln since 2018. He followed Frost from UCF, where he had been the defensive coordinator for two seasons.

Special Teams Coordinator Bill Busch will coordinate the defense for the remainder of the season. The Huskers have a bye this week before hosting Indiana at Memorial Stadium on October 1st.

Social media reactions of Sunday’s news can be found below.

Report says Nebraska has contacted Urban Meyer

The three-time national champion was warmly received by the Lincoln crowd.

During the second half of Nebraska’s 49-14 loss to Oklahoma, news broke that Urban Meyer had been contacted by the University of Nebraska athletic department regarding its head coach position. However, Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports says the school is still identifying potential candidates for the head coach vacancy, so unknown precisely what the nature of the conversation was.

Meyer was in Lincoln for Saturday’s game as a FOX Big Noon Kickoff crew member. The Lincoln crowd warmly received the three-time national champion head coach, who occasionally took up “we want Urban” chants. Meyer has recently reciprocated the affection by saying that Nebraska fans “are as good fans as there are in America.”

Workers assemble a set for the Fox Big Noon Kickoff football show Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at the University of Nebraska Union, in Lincoln, Neb. (Noah Riffe/Lincoln Journal Star via AP)

It’s no surprise to hear Meyer’s name connected to the job as Athletic Director Trev Alberts stated that the process will involve talking to “a lot of people.”

“Ultimately, you know, in a prior life, I have relationships with a lot of coaches in this business, and I intend to reach out to a lot of people. So if you hear that Trev Alberts reached out to XYZ coach, it doesn’t mean that I’ve offered the job to XYZ coach. I think there’s some fabulous coaches out there that have a perspective about our job that I can benefit from so I’m going to reach out to a lot of people.

“If you hear that Trev Alberts reached out to XYZ coach, it might very well be true. Doesn’t mean that I’m trying to hire that coach. I’d like to get that perspective. I’d like to get a perspective of a coach who isn’t here right now about our job, and what the uniqueness is and the needs and those sorts of things. So just want to be clear about that process. Obviously, there’s been some changes in college football with the early signing date and transfer portal. There are considerations as we go forward as well.”

This will not be the last time Urban Meyer’s name is mentioned in connection with the Nebraska job, and there will undoubtedly be more names to follow. With the promise of a “detail-oriented process,” it could be some time before a permanent head coach is named.

Below are social media reactions and video clips of Urban Meyer’s trip to Lincoln.