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Nebraska reportedly lands new special teams coordinator via SEC assistant

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Nebraska has reportedly found its next special teams coordinator, pulling a member of Tennessee’s coaching staff to Lincoln. According to multiple reports, special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler will be heading to Nebraska.

Brent Hubbs with On3 Sports was the first to report the news of Ekeler’s departure from Tennessee. Ekeler previously spent 2008-10 in Lincoln as a member of Bo Pelini’s Nebraska staff.

Ekeler joined Heupel’s initial staff in Knoxville in 2021 and has served as the special teams coordinator and OLBs coach throughout his time with the Vols. He also held the coordinator position at North Texas and Kansas during his time as a coach and also spent time at Georgia, UNC, LSU, Oklahoma and USC as an assistant.

Ekeler now leaves behind a void at Tennessee but will be a key piece to Matt Rhule’s staff moving forward. Ed Foley, a longtime assistant of Rhule’s, was brought by the head coach to Lincoln in 2023, but things have not worked out for Nebraska’s special teams unit.

The Huskers averaged just 18.6 yards per kick return and 4.9 yards per punt return this season, along with missing 6 field goals for a 68.4% conversion rate on field goals. That kicking percentage ranked 102nd nationally, and that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Nebraska’s bowl game included a cacophony of special teams miscues, including a blocked punt and a blocked PAT. Rhule publicly said it was time for a “complete and total overhaul” of special teams after the bowl game, and he has that with Ekeler.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.