Nebraska has signed coach Matt Rhule to a two-year contract extension that can take him by means of the 2032 season, the college introduced Thursday.
The extension consists of a rise in Rhule’s buyout this season to $15 million from $5 million, which might successfully get rid of him from taking one other job on this cycle.
Rhule and his household’s happiness at Nebraska, the place he is in his third 12 months as head coach, was the first driver behind him agreeing to a brand new deal, per ESPN sources. Nebraska is 6-2 this season, and Rhule led this system to its first bowl sport since 2016 final 12 months. He has spoken regularly in regards to the potential of the Nebraska program.
“The College of Nebraska, the town of Lincoln and the state of Nebraska are particular. It’s a place our household is proud to name house,” Rhule stated in an announcement. “We now have excellent management from [Nebraska president] Dr. [Jeffrey P.] Gold and [athletic director] Troy Dannen, and I respect the assist and confidence they’ve proven in our employees. Our focus stays on constructing Nebraska Soccer right into a perennial championship contender.”
Rhule had been regularly been linked to the open job at his alma mater, Penn State. And this extension primarily takes one other distinguished identify out of competition for the eight energy convention jobs which have opened to date this 12 months.
The brand new deal doesn’t embrace any change in base compensation. It does provide the extra incentive for base wage if Nebraska reaches the School Soccer Playoff. There’s an revolutionary new clause within the deal that states each time Nebraska qualifies for the CFP, Rhule’s base wage for every year on the deal will increase by $1 million.
Rhule’s wage all through the course of the deal has an AAV of greater than $11.7 million (together with retention bonuses). That quantity places him within the highest echelon of school coaches over the course of the deal.
Rhule’s two extra years are at $12.5 million, the identical as the ultimate 12 months of his present deal in 2030. The deal stays 90% assured.
This season, Rhule is at the moment within the high 15 in wage at $8.5 million. Previous to the extension, the deal included vital escalators within the contract, as in 2027, he’ll make $11 million (with retention bonus).
The brand new deal comes at a time when Nebraska is trending towards this system’s greatest season in almost a decade, as Nebraska hasn’t reached back-to-back bowls since 2016. That 9-4 season beneath Mike Riley can also be the final 12 months the Cornhuskers received greater than eight video games in a 12 months.
“Coach Rhule has proven he’s the fitting chief on the proper time for Nebraska Soccer. We stay up for him and his household being in Lincoln for a very long time,” Dannen stated in an announcement. “Our program has seen vital progress beneath Matt’s management, and at this stage within the evolution of this system continuity and stability are essential. I welcome the chance to proceed to accomplice with Matt and his employees to construct a program that can make everybody related to Nebraska Soccer proud. Go Massive Crimson!”
Nebraska employed Rhule in November 2022 after 5 consecutive shedding seasons beneath Scott Frost. Rhule had been fired earlier within the 12 months by the Carolina Panthers, however he introduced a powerful monitor report as a school coach and program builder at each Temple and Baylor.
Whereas Trev Alberts employed Rhule to switch Scott Frost following the 2022 season, Rhule agreed to the extension beneath second-year athletic director Troy Dannen.
Rhule’s monitor report consists of an American Athletic Convention title at Temple in 2016 and a wholesale rebuild at Baylor that included a Sugar Bowl look after the 2019 season.