Matt Rhule explains decision to promote Dana Holgorsen to playcaller, offensive coordinator

Dana Holgorsen is Nebraska’s offensive coordinator for the rest of this season in Lincoln. It’ll be a new look and perspective that they want to have for their offense over the final three games according to Matt Rhule.

Rhule addressed the decision to have Holgorsen call the plays for the ‘Huskers on Monday. He said that they had him doing some of it since adding him over their bye week and they liked what he brought to it.

“I think, you know, called them last week. Had him come in, had him kind of look at everything,” Rhule said during his press conference.

“I think, you know, he has got a long history of success offensively, both as a head coach but certainly as a coordinator before that,” Rhule said. “I think he just kind of gives us a fresh perspective on looking at, kind of, what we’re doing and who we’re doing it with. He was able to sort of say, ‘Hey, lets kind of go in these directions over here.'”

Marcus Satterfield had been the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach through his two seasons on the staff. Through 21 games in that span, the Cornhuskers had averaged 20.8 points and 333.5 yards per game on offense. Both seasons have been 100th or worse in ppg. in their respective years.

While improved this fall, they’re still only posting 23.6 ppg. in 100th in their nine games so far. That has worsened since the start of October with Nebraska averaging 14.5 ppg. and 290 yards over their last four.

With that, Holgorsen takes the headset now after initially coming in to consult to end this season. He does so after just over a decade and a half as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach at Houston, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia while also previously being at Texas Tech. In that time since 200, Holgorsen has had his offenses averaging 37.9 ppg., good for an average finish just outside the top 30 but with five finishes in the top 10 and nine in the top 25, and 491.8 yards.

Holgorsen has the last quarter of the season to improve the offense to some extent for Nebraska. Rhule believes he will too with what he has known of him in their careers.

“I just think it gives us a great opportunity to have one of the great, great offensive minds. A guy that I’ve been friends with before and I trust,” said Rhule. “Excited to see what he does.”