Nebraska is finally taking special teams seriously after some lackluster performances in Lincoln. To revitalize the unit, head coach Matt Rhule has hired former Nebraska assistant Mike Ekeler to be the special teams coordinator.

Previously reported, the Huskers confirmed the hiring on Tuesday. Ekeler was most recently at Tennessee where he served as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach for the Volunteers.

Rhule described Ekeler’s special teams units as “elite” in his statement confirming the addition:

“Mike Ekeler brings a history of special teams excellence to Nebraska,” Rhule said. “His work with Tennessee’s special teams has been elite. Regardless of what statistics you look at over the past four years, Tennessee’s special teams have been at or near the top in the nation. Mike’s energy and true passion for special teams carries over to the players on his units and that will have a positive impact on our program.”

Ekeler graduated from Blair (Neb.) High School and Kansas State and previously spent 2008-10 on the Nebraska coaching staff. He was a part of the staff that helped the Huskers win 2 Big 12 Championships in that time frame.

Ekeler described Nebraska as home and shared his excitement for the endeavor in his statement:

“I am unbelievably excited to have the opportunity to come back to Nebraska and join Coach Rhule’s staff,” Ekeler said. “I love what Coach Rhule is building at Nebraska, his hard-nosed approach and his vision for making Nebraska’s special teams the best in the nation.

“I was born and raised in Nebraska, my parents live in Fremont, so this is home. I grew up in Memorial Stadium watching my uncle, All-American Bob Martin, play for the Huskers. One of the highlights of my coaching career was being at Nebraska from 2008 to 2010. Each stop in my career since then has molded me into a better coach and I appreciate everyone who has impacted me and prepared me for this opportunity to come back to Nebraska and help get this program back to the top of college football.”

We’ll see if Ekeler can indeed deliver on turning Nebraska’s special teams into an elite unit in the search for improvement from a 7-6 season in 2024.