With outside linebackers coach Jovan Dewitt leaving Nebraska for North Carolina this offseason, Scott Frost was left searching for a replacement. He reached out to one of his former assistants to fill the void.

Thursday morning, Nebraska announced that former Nebraska defensive line coach Mike Dawson will be returning to Lincoln to become the outside linebackers coach. He was a member of the Huskers staff in 2018 as the defensive line coach in Frost’s first season with the program.

Last season, Dawson coached the outside linebackers with the NFL’s New York Giants.

Dawson had been with Frost for three seasons before taking a leap to the NFL. In 2016 and 2017, Dawson was on the UCF staff under Frost, where he also served as the defensive line coach.

Dawson brings over two decades of coaching experience to the Nebraska defense. In addition to Nebraska and UCF, Dawson has had collegiate stops at Boston College, Akron, New Hampshire, Pitt and Maine. He was also an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles for three seasons.

Nebraska finished the 2019 season with a 5-7 record, missing a bowl game for the third straight season. In the two years under Frost, the Huskers are 9-15.