PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas– Nebraska is closing in on an agreement to hire Matt Rhule as its next coach.
Rhule, who turned around programs at Temple and Baylor before trying to conquer the NFL, was fired as coach of the Carolina Panthers earlier this fall in his third season with that franchise.
Best known for taking Big 12 member Baylor from 1-11 to an 11-3 record and a spot n the Sugar Bowl, Rhule led one of the quickest turnarounds in Power 5 history. He also led Temple from 2-10 to back to back 10 win
seasons and an American Athletic Conference in 2016 prior to departing the Owls for Waco. Temple has not won more than eight games since he left after the 2016 season, posting a 7-23 record.
If Rhule takes the Cornhuskrs’ job, he will be challenged with another rebuild at a once dominant Big 12 program that has not won 10 games since 2012, its first year in the Big Ten and has made played in a bowl game since
2016.
Rhule would follow Scott Frost, a popular former championship quarterback at Nebraska who came in as a savior and left as a major disappointment, with a 16-31 record. He was fired three games into the season after a 1a 1-2 start and a loss to Georgia Southern. When Rhule took the Baylor job, the program was in the aftermath of a massive Title 1X scandals and only had one player committed when Rhule arrived. Temple was slightly more successful, but felll to 4-7 before
Steve Addazio left to take the Boston College job. In both cases, Rhule rebuilt progams that were in the ashes, conncentrating on player development and toughness with high IQ football. Although Baylor did not win a Big 12 title but Rhule layed the basis for Dave Aranda’s Big 12 champions in 2021.
There is little question Nebraska needs help. The loyal fanbase misses the physicality Bob Devanney and Tom Osborne had during championship runs in the 70s and the 90s.
Rhule had a good situation at Baylor, but couldnt turn down an $62 million offer from Panther’s owner Dave Tepper. The Panthers still owe him more than $34 million.
Rhule had never coached in Texas before he took the Baylor job, but he connected with the Texas high school coaches and ultimately hired three high school coaches on his staff. He should get immediatel help if iterim coach Mickey Joseph, who has a strong background at Nebraska and extensive experience, stays on as receivers coach.
