Following Nebraska’s final game of the season, Husker head coach Matt Rhule said a «total overhaul» was needed on special teams. That will include a change in leadership of that unit in 2025.
It was confirmed to Husker247 through the Nebraska athletic department on Saturday that Ed Foley will no longer be coordinating special teams for the Huskers. It’s unclear at this point if he might stay within the program in another capacity. News of the planned change at the coordinator spot was first reported by Football Scoop.
It has been two largely bumpy seasons in Lincoln for Big Red special teams. Nebraska’s special teams had 10 combined punts, kicks and extra points blocked in the 2024 season, with the Pinstripe Bowl featuring a blocked punt that was turned into points and an extra point attempt that was blocked and returned for two points.
It was a 20-15 Husker victory over Boston College that isn’t as close without the critical special teams errors.
«So, no secret, to be where we need to be next year, we have to be the same defensively, probably a little bit better in some areas,» Rhule said in the postgame. «We have to really improve on offense and I think we’re all seeing sometimes signs of what it’s going to look like. And then special teams, we need a complete and total overhaul of that. We have to be better at that. I always put those things on my shoulders. We’ll get it done but it has not been good enough this year.»
The Huskers had multiple games this season where multiple kicks were blocked and a muffed punt against Iowa set up a score for the Hawkeyes in a game the Huskers ultimately lost.
Nebraska has sought to improve its special teams units already via the transfer portal. The Huskers have signed former New Hampshire long snapper Kevin Gallic and veteran Washington punter Jack McCallister.
Rhule and Foley have a long professional relationship connected back to Rhule’s time at Temple. Foley followed Rhule to Baylor and then on to the Carolina Panthers before coming to Lincoln to coordinate special teams.
Foley handled in-state recruiting efforts for the Huskers, making early headlines with his trips across the state and stops in small-town eateries.
The move is the third coordinator change since November for Rhule. The Huskers swapped Marcus Satterfield for Dana Holgorsen in November and John Butler was promoted to defensive coordinator after Tony White left to take a similar job at Florida State in December.