Matt Rhule didn’t waste any time making staff changes once he decided they were needed. Deciding they were needed also wasn’t a difficult process. After Nebraska’s unexpected collapse in their final two games against Penn State and Iowa it was obvious to anyone watching things weren’t working on the defensive side of the ball. But changes weren’t just needed on defense, the offensive line may have looked better toward the end of the season, but they were terrible against Michigan and Minnesota, giving up 16 sacks in those two games alone. And before it was done Nebraska lost their starting QB Dylan Raiola for the season due to an injury that occurred on a sack against USC. Changes were needed on both sides of the ball.
On Monday the 1st, Rhule fired defensive coordinator John Butler. On Saturday the 6th, Rhule fired offensive line coach Donavan Raiola. Shortly after firing Raiola news broke that Rhule had hired Georgia Tech’s Geep Wade as Nebraska’s new O-line coach. Then Sunday news broke Rhule had hired San Deigo State’s Rob Aurich as defensive coordinator. There has yet to be an official release of the hirings from the University.
Donavan Raiola’s firing will be questioned by some since he was the only coach retained by Rhule upon his arrival. It was surprising at the time, and the narrative out there was that he was kept him to keep his nephew QB Dylan Raiola in the fold, still trying to convince him to come to Nebraska. Which he eventually did. With Dylan’s brother Dayton decommitting and Uncle Donnie being fired, there will be a new narrative that Dylan is on his way out as well. I don’t believe that to be true, but even if it is, Rhule had to call the Riola family’s bluff. He may have finally realized the only way he was going to be successful was to take control of his own destiny and damn the consequences.
Addressing John Butler’s firing, I’m not convinced all the defensive woes fall fully on his shoulders. More defensive staff changes will tell us if that is true or not. Frankly, I don’t believe the coaching changes are done on the defensive side of the ball. Either way, Butler wasn’t the answer as the DC.
New Offensive Line Coach Geep Wade
Geep Wade’s resume speaks for itself, it’s impressive and is filled with everything Rhule is looking for in an offensive line coach. If he can bring the same physicality, identity, consistency, and development to this roster, OC Dana Holgorsen will be peeing down his leg with excitement.
Wade has been at Georgia Tech for three seasons. In 2025 Georgia Tech’s offense ranked 12th nationally in total offense with 466.3 yards per game. In the running game GT had 30 rushing TDs and averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 36 rushing attempts per game. That efficiency and volume indicates people are getting pushed off the ball, drives are being sustained, and it’s an offensive line that is dominant in the trenches. But not only do they move people, they protect them as well. This season the Yellow Jacket O-line allowed 9 sacks in 354 drop backs. Take into consideration that their QB was Haynes King.
Wade’s O-line success hasn’t just been in 2025. In 2023 and 2024 the Yellow Jackets have been first or second in rushing in the ACC and have the fewest sacks allowed both seasons. That type of success made Wade’s unit stand out and brought attention to what he was building.
An offensive lineman himself, he has been coaching for 20 years at places like Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, East Carolina, Middle Tennessee, Marshall, Chattanooga, UT Martin, Midwestern State, Mars Hill, and Tennessee.
Improvement under Wade shouldn’t be too difficult. Over Raiola’s four seasons the O-line allowed 121 sacks (30.25) keeping the offense behind the sticks and QBs on the run. In the running game their best season under Raiola produced a 4.4 yards per carry average. They were never consistent in controlling the line of scrimmage.
Wade brings exactly what the Huskers need, a coach with an identity, someone who develops lineman, and is a builder of units who communicate and consistently produce. It all adds up to look like the perfect hire.
New Defensive Coordinator Rob Aurich
It took Rhule a few more days but the hiring of Rob Aurich for the defensive coordinator position also looks like the right hire. Aurich is young, energetic and on the rise. He was only the DC at SDSU for one season, but his turnaround of the defense was one of the best in college football this year. Point no further than the Aztec’s finishing 5th nationally in scoring defense at 12.6 points per game after being 97th the previous season with 29.6 points. They were 5th in passing yards allowed (155.9) and 12th in 3rd down conversion defense, and 7th in red zone defense, which all adds up to being 7th nationally in total defense for 2025.
Aurich came to SDSU in the 2024 season as the edge coach. Before that he was the DC for the Idaho Vandals and HC Jason Eck for two seasons. Before his arrival as DC for the Vandals, they gave up 31.5 points per game and were ranked 93rd nationally. Upon his departure they gave up 22.1 points per game and were ranked 28th nationally. In his first season as DC the Vandals went from creating 8 turnovers to 21.
Comparing 2025 stats of the Aztecs and the Huskers:
Aztecs – Allowed 109.7 yards rushing per game at 3.2 yard per carry average and 0.4 TDs. They had 63 TFLs, 32 sacks,13 INTs, 3 fumble recoveries, and 5 forced fumbles. Tied for 1st nationally in TDs allowed in the red zone.
Huskers – Allowed 171.3 yards rushing per game at 4.8 yards per carry and 2.2 TDs. They had 61 TFLs, 19 sacks, 6 INTs, 7 fumble recoveries, and 4 forced fumbles. They were 136th nationally in the FBS in TDs allowed in the red zone.
As you can see, Nebraska didn’t have a horrible defense, but they couldn’t stop the run, were bad in the red zone, and didn’t put pressure on the quarterback like the Aztecs did, which obviously caused interceptions. Nebraska’s 19 sacks ranked 105th nationally.
Aurich runs a base 4-2-5 scheme on defense and leans towards man coverage on the back end. We’ve seen Nebraska run a four man front occasionally this season, but the personnel used was sometimes out of position. A true four-man front may suit this team better as there are players like Williams Nwaneri and Keona Davis who look like and play like true defensive ends. But Rhule indicated he wanted to see more than scheme was someone who coached physicality and effort. That would be Aurich.
The big question will be does Aurich bring anybody with him, players or coaches. Rumor has it that the thing that kept Toledo DC Vince Kehres from taking the DC job was that he wanted to bring his own defensive back coach and Rhule was adamant about keeping Addison Willimas. Is there someone Aurich wants to bring? One name to watch is San Deigo State’s defensive line coach Daven Lose (Low-say). He came from Idaho with Aurich to San Deigo State. With the two coaching together over the last four years Aurich may feel Lose is a vital part of his defensive success. The only thing that may keep that from happening is if San Deigo State HC Sean Lewis elevates Lose to the DC position.
Both Geep Wade and Rob Aurich are Broyles Award nominees for the 2025 season. Nebraska’s Mike Ekeler is also a nominee, making three 2025 Broyles Award nominees on the Nebraska staff moving forward.
With the firings and hirings over the last week, it would be hard to say Rhule isn’t a man of action. The only thing now is, will his actions reap results? Rhule is very confident in his ability to recognize talent, but Nebraska fans have seen some of Rhule’s choices fall flat, like Garrett McGurie, Bob Wager, and John Butler. Will we see more changes, or is the man of action done for now? Hang on Husker fans, I have a feeling it isn’t over yet.
GO BIG RED!!
Photo courtesy of The Falls City Journal.
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Stats gathered from ESPN – Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.