E.J. Bathel, the running backs coach for Nebraska football, received a 2-year contract extension this month. His new contract will keep him here through the 2027 season. The new contract increases his salary from $293,550 a year to $450,000 a year. A significant pay bump.
When you compare Barthel’s new contract to other power four running backs coaches, his salary is on the upper end of the average. However, some programs pay quite a bit more, both Texas and Ohio State pay their position coaches north of $500,000 a year, for example.
This news came as a surprise to some fans, as there was at least a portion of the fanbase that wanted head coach Matt Rhule to find a new running backs coach this last offseason. Rhule and new offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson obviously felt confident in Barthel. The running game in 2024 ranked 49th nationally, averaging only 164.8 yards per game. Bathel relied heavily on a one-two punch from previous running back Dante Dowdell (Kentucky transfer) and Emmett Johnson. Once Holgerson was hired late into the season, we saw Johnson take on a much bigger roll running the ball and he appeared explosive at times. Still, fans didn’t believe they saw enough out of the running backs to warrant keeping Barthel. Again, Rhule obviously feels different. And to be fair and honest, it’s not like Barthel was working with a room full of stars. Johnson was a three-star recruit, and while Dowdell was a four-star recruit his first college stop was Oregon where he couldn’t find playing time and then transferred to Nebraska. He came to Nebraska overweight and had to overcome that for playing time.
The running back room for next year will be led by Johnson, as no transfer running backs were taken by the Huskers. Kwinten Ives, a sophomore, will fight for playing time as well. Then they have true freshmen Jamario Parker coming in as well as Conor Booth. On paper, the room appears to be a bit underwhelming. With not just a contract extension but a big pay increase its reasonable for the fans to expect Barthel to make a leap with that group this year regardless.
What are your thoughts on the Barthel extension? Let us know. And as always, go big red!