Cornhuskers Set to Hire John Butler as New Secondary Coach

© Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Things happen fast in Lincoln, Neb. On July 5, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Evan Cooper resigned as the Cornhuskers' secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator and that Nebraska was seeking a replacement. On July 6, Thamel reported the Big Red expects to hire former NFL assistant coach John Butler as Cooper's replacement.

John Butler's Background

Butler has been an assistant coach for the NFL's Buffalo Bills since 2018. In Buffalo, Butler was reunited with his former high school teammate, Sean McDermott. He began as the Bills' secondary coach and became the defensive pass game coordinator in 2022.

Before his tenure with the Bills, Butler was on the Houston Texans staff from 2014 until 2017. Before coaching in the NFL, he was a coach at the collegiate level. He is an alumnus of Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he played on the Cardinal's Division III football team. He coached at Catholic, then at a series of other universities, including Texas, Midwestern State, Texas State, Harvard, Minnesota, South Carolina and Penn State.

Butler brings extensive secondary experience to coach Matt Rhule's Husker staff. His last position in college football was defensive coordinator at Penn State in 2013, where he worked for Bill O'Brien before following him to the Texans. Butler's primary experience as a positional coach is with defensive backs and linebackers. He has also coordinated defenses and coached special teams. He is entering the 29th year of his coaching career.

Butler's Fit With the Cornhuskers

Nebraska's hire of Butler brings extensive experience to the Conhuskers' coaching staff as the beginning of the season draws near. With his multiple coaching stops in the state of Texas and national recruiting experience, Butler also brings crucial recruiting ties to an area of the country from which the Huskers have historically drawn players.

Butler's extensive background in defense makes him an ideal candidate to quickly adapt to defensive coordinator Tony White's unique 3-3-5 system.

More information on official hires is inevitable as the season rapidly approaches. Make sure to stay up to date on college football news with College Football Dawgs.