The University of Nebraska-Lincoln hires Matt Rhule as the 31st head coach of their football program. His tenure with Carolina is certainly polarizing for its fanbase, but Rhule is getting a fresh start again at the collegiate level. While this week is the last set of regular season contests for college football, Rhule’s tenure will begin as the program looks to recruit for next season. Rhule was previously the head coach for Temple and Baylor University before leaping to the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. However, he did not manage to survive the NFL season, as he was fired after week five this year. Rhule joins an embattled program in Nebraska, as they previously fired Scott Frost after multiple losing seasons with the team.
Matt Rhule Before Nebraska
At the collegiate level, Rhule has an overall record of 47-43, albeit with two separate programs. From 2013-2016, Rhule amassed a 28-23 record at Temple University. It was this winning record that led him to leave Temple and join the then-struggling Baylor Bears football program. At the time, the university, and by extension the football program, was still reeling from the fallout of Art Briles. With Rhule at the helm, Baylor was able to achieve a 19-20 record from 2017-2019. The turnaround in Waco was enough to impress Carolina, who was also looking to turn around their NFL team. Rhule had jumped up from the AAC to the mighty Big 12 and had considerable success. So, at the time, it was not catastrophic to think Rhule could become another coach who successfully transitioned to the NFL. In reality, it seemed like the natural next step for the rising coach.
At the NFL level, Rhule had an overall record of 11-27 with the Carolina Panthers. He joined the Panthers in 2020 and stayed with them until October 2022. So, a little over two seasons with the team. Suffice it to say, but his record at the collegiate level shows that he might lead another turnaround for an embattled program like Nebraska. At the moment, both Rhule and the University have openly acknowledged the new start, but details of the eight-year deal have yet to surface. Additionally, the fact that it is a lengthy contract suggests the university will give him ample time to readjust to the everchanging NCAA. Lastly, the Big 10 is set to become an even stronger conference in the future reshaping, and the university wants Rhule to lead the Cornhuskers back on top of this new order.
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