Matt Rhule wasted no time in beginning to make coaching staff changes in the wake of a two-game losing streak to end the regular season. Special Team’s coach Mike Ekeler was a nominee the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. He was safe, but the other two phases – offense and defense – is where old faces and new one’s were crossing paths in the hallways of the Osborne Family Legacy Complex.
The changes began with the dismissal of Defensive Coordinator John Butler, who’s unit caved in against more physical Big Ten conference foes Penn State and Iowa at the end of the year. Butler’s specialty had been coaching the secondary – at both he college and pro levels – and Nebraska’s pass defense was outstanding in 2025. But in the Big Ten, that’s not where the emphasis needs to be.
On the offensive side of the ball, O-Line coach Donovan Raiola was let go and almost immediately replaced by veteran Geep Wade, who had been a Georgia Tech.
Wade is a 25-year veteran assistant coach. His Tech teams featured powerful ground attacks. Wade has pledged to be part of the Husker’s bowl preparation as they get ready to face 15th-ranked Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Already dealing with multiple injuries along the offensive front, the Huskers will be without senior standout tackle Rocco Spindler for that contest.
It didn’t take long for Rhule to find a replacement for Butler, either. The third year Husker coach was successful in luring former San Diego State Defensive Coordinator Rob Aurich from the west coast. Aurich’s Aztecs were stingy, posting three shutouts and allowing less than 13 points per game last season, his second with SDSU. Defensive Line coach Terry Braden was also let go, meaning Rhule has had to spend some time during Bowl preparation coaching linemen down in the trenches.
Aurich in turn wasted no time in reaching out and securing highly touted defensive ends coach Roy Manning from his old staff at SDSU. The Aztecs featured a strong pass rush last season. That’s also an area Nebraska struggled in badly in 2025. Manning has previously coached at places like Cincinnati, Washington State, UCLA, Michigan, USC and Oklahoma.
Rhule has said he’s done firing coaches, but Nebraska is still very much in the running to acquire the coaching and recruiting talents of “elite” defensive line coach Elijah Robinson, who has left Syracuse and is in discussions with LSU about joining Lane Kiffin’s new staff in Baton Rouge.
Robinson served as the co-DC at Syracuse last season after being the interim Head Coach in 2023 at Texas A&M following Jimbo Fisher’s midseason firing. He’s also coached at Penn State (his alma mater) and Baylor among his stops. Landing Robinson would give Rhule one of the top defensive coaching staffs in the country.
No other staff changes are anticipated, although with the coaching carousel still in motion – most notably at Michigan – it’s too early to say anyone’s staff is locked down completely for next season.
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