Nebraska Football to Hire Former NFL Assistant for Open Secondary Position

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The Nebraska football team may be looking for a replacement for the suddenly vacant assistant coaching position.

Evan Cooper resigned Friday as secondary coach and passing game coordinator after working under Matt Rhule for 11 consecutive seasons.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Rhule is expected to hire John Butler as the new secondary coach.

Butler retired from the Buffalo Bills in February after six seasons as defensive backs coach and two as passing game coordinator. He also spent four years with the Houston Texans.

John Butler at Penn State in 2013

Nov 2, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive coordinator John Butler signals from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Illinois 24-17. / Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Before entering the NFL, Butler gained Big Ten Conference coaching experience as an assistant at Penn State (2012-13) and Minnesota (2007-10). He also served as defensive coordinator in his final year with the Nittany Lions.

Butler’s other coaching stops include South Carolina, Harvard, Southwest Texas State (now just Texas State), Midwestern State (Div. II) and Texas as a graduate assistant. His experience outside the secondary includes linebacker and special teams.

Nebraska football 18 days before its Big Ten Media Days appearance and 56 days before the start of the 2024 season against UTEP.

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