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Rhule explains decision to hire John Butler as defensive backs coach


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.

Find more Big Ten Media Days coverage from Cornhuskers Wire.

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Story originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire





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