Nebraska

Report: Matt Rhule reuniting with longtime assistant coach Phil Snow

Published

1 year ago

December 11, 2024

Report: Matt Rhule reuniting with longtime assistant coach Phil Snow

Phil Snow is back in the fold and will reunite with Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule on a full-time basis, per a report from Pete Thamel.

Snow will be reportedly joining Rhule’s staff as the Huskers’ associate head coach. It will be a reunion of two longtime coaching partners who are very familiar with each other.

Snow has been a full-time assistant on Rhule’s coaching staffs for 10 of the 12 years he has been a coach. Snow was the defensive coordinator for all 10 seasons of Rhule’s tenures as the coach of Temple (four seasons, 2013-16), Baylor (three seasons, 2017-19) and in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers (three seasons, 2020-22). He also served as Temple’s safeties coach all four of those years and Baylor’s safeties coach for one season (2019).

Snow was one of five finalists in 2019 for the Broyles Award, given annually to the top assistant in college football. He was also a semifinalist for the Broyles Award in 2014 and 2015 as Temple DC and safeties coach.

Sources told Inside Nebraska at the time that Rhule attempted to hire Snow as his defensive coordinator once again when he took the Nebraska head coaching job in November 2022. Snow, though, declined and elected to retire from coaching – or, at least, retire from any full-time on-field coaching role.

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Rhule, however, was able to add Snow as a defensive consultant for the Huskers during the 2024 season. The news of Snow’s addition in a consultant role trickled out in early November, and Rhule revealed one week later that Snow was performing those duties off-site away from the Huskers’ facilities.

“Phil doesn’t even come up here,” Rhule said on Nov. 11. “Phil does everything virtually for us. He watches tape, we have a couple guys that do things like that for us. When we were playing Colorado, he’d watch Colorado’s defense, dissect the defense for us, watch the offense, dissect the offense for us. Frank Verducci does the same thing for us, though he does come up on game days.

“We have a couple guys that help us, like in the NFL as advanced scouts, just sort of their take to give to the coordinator on Sundays. So when you walk in on Sunday, you already have someone who studied them for a week who knows your way of seeing things and the other team’s strengths and weaknesses.”

The addition of Snow in an off-the-field role as a defensive consultant was similar to his addition of Dana Holgorsen on the other side of the ball. Rhule initially hired Holgorsen as an offensive consultant and, ultimately, as the full-time offensive coordinator.

“Last week (the week after Nebraska’s loss to UCLA), I woke up Sunday morning, went through Sunday, and then got home and called both those guys and said, ‘Can you get up here at some point,’ then waited to see if they showed up on Monday or not,” Rhule said during that same Nov. 11 press conference. “… (Holgorsen) got done last year (as Houston head coach) and probably needed some time. And I called him (after the loss to UCLA) and said, ‘Hey, can you come in and help?’ So he and Phil came in and kind of looked through everything.

“… Just being out on the field, it looks like it’s flowing really well and moving really smoothly (the change from Marcus Satterfield to Holgorsen as OC). That was the take from Phil. He came in and said – and I trust Phil with my life – that I have a really good group of kids, you have a good defensive staff. It’s just some of these games, it’s a play here, a play there. You’re knocking the quarterback out of bounds on 3rd-and-8 when you need to come around and sack-fumble the ball. It’s just little edges here and there that we’re fighting for.”

Matt Rhule offseason staff changes

It is unclear how much Snow will be involved in Rhule’s defense this time around, but his background and impending hire both suggest he will be involved in some capacity. No matter the role, the pair will be reunited in a full-time capacity for 11 of 13 seasons during Rhule’s tenure as a head coach and at all four of Rhule’s head-coaching stops.

Though Snow’s hiring has not been officially announced by Rhule or Nebraska, the news is imminent as Rhule continues to give a significant facelift to his coaching staff entering Year 3.

The Nebraska head man is doing so amid a pair of significant departures (former defensive coordinator Tony White and former DL coach Terrance Knighton both leaving for those same positions at Florida State), another full-time assistant heading elsewhere (former WR coach Garret McGuire not being retained and heading to Texas Tech to join his father’s staff, Joey McGuire, as an offensive analyst and assistant RBs coach) and at least one other major demotion (former offensive coordinator/TEs coach Marcus Satterfield remaining with the Huskers to coach the tight ends but losing his OC job and his duties as a playcaller).

Rhule already brought in Holgorsen as a “corporate fixer” of sorts, hiring Holgorsen first as an offensive consultant during the Huskers’ second bye week after a 5-1 start and subsequent three-game losing streak left them at 5-4. Then, he announced the official change during USC Week that Holgorsen was replacing Satterfield.

This offseason, Holgorsen coaxed longtime assistant Daikiel Shorts, Holgorsen’s former three-year leading receiver as West Virginia head coach, to leave his one-year post as Kentucky’s WRs coach to take the same position at Nebraska.

Also, in addition to the Tuesday news of Snow’s impending hire, two more staff hires were revealed.

First, Nebraska secondary coach and pass game coordinator John Butler was elevated to full-time defensive coordinator to replace White.

Then, Kansas City Chiefs eight-year assistant Terry Bradden – who helped the Chiefs win three Super Bowl championships as a defensive assistant (2017), defensive quality control coach (2018-20) and assistant defensive line coach (2021-24) with Kansas City – was hired as the Huskers’ DL coach to replace Knighton.

Matt Rhule’s Year 3 Nebraska coaching staff

Below is a look at Rhule’s coaching staff heading into Year 3 at Nebraska compared to his staff in Years 1-2 during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

College head coaches are only permitted to have 10 full-time, on-field assistant coaches on their staffs. There are 13 full-time assistants listed on the table. Therefore, the coaching staff listed is not finalized and will not be set in stone, as there will have to be more changes made, whether that be via more departures, consolidation with one assistant absorbing multiple position groups or other moves.

Matt Rhule’s Year 3 Nebraska Coaching Staff*

*as of Dec. 10, 2024 ^new position on Year 3 coaching staff

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Nebraska

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

Published

8 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

20 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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Nebraska

Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Maryland men’s basketball has found itself in plenty of close games over the past few weeks. Four of its last five were decided by seven points or less, and the Terps won three of them.

Head coach Buzz Williams had ostensibly found a winning recipe in crunch time. That is, until Wednesday’s clash with No. 12 Nebraska.

Down by five with just over six minutes to play, the key ingredients for a comeback were nowhere to be found. Andre Mills, who had been superb over Maryland’s past few matches, turned the ball over to star forward Pryce Sandfort on an errant pass. Just seconds later, Sandfort splashed a 3-pointer, and Pinnacle Bank Arena went wild.

That sequence was the cap of a 9-0 run and the middle of an 0-of-4 shooting stretch for Maryland. What was largely a competitive contest soon became lopsided, and the Terps fell, 74-61.

Williams used his coach’s challenge just a minute and a half into Wednesday’s contest. The reversed call didn’t result in points right away — the Terps turned it over the very next possession — but it undoubtedly sent a crystal clear, no-nonsense message to the sideline.

And Maryland’s defense was ready for the rowdy away game occasion. The Terps notched just five points in the opening five minutes — two coming on a thunderous Solomon Washington slam — but didn’t allow Nebraska on the scoresheet. In fact, Maryland turned the Cornhuskers over twice in that span, and Guillermo Del Pino rejected a Jamarques Lawrence layup.

Nebraska started the game 0-of-6 from the field before finding the net. Sandfort channeled his shooting prowess, sinking a 3-pointer to give the Cornhuskers their first advantage of the match six-and-a-half minutes in.

Forward Braden Frager was the true catalyst for Nebraska’s sudden surge, logging seven of the team’s first 10 points and operating well in transition. His quick-hit offense didn’t allow Maryland to set up its effective half-court defense.

The Terps’ offense remained relatively cold as the midway point of the half approached. They embarked on a 1-of-8 shooting stretch, with Nebraska consistently switching on Maryland’s perimeter looks and forcing Washington into some perimeter shots.

Interestingly enough, it was Washington and his frontcourt counterpart — Elijah Saunders — that offered the team a surge from beyond the arc. The two combined for four of the squad’s first five 3-pointers — two of Saunders’ makes came in the last five minutes of the half to keep Maryland within striking distance.

The Cornhuskers took a six point advantage into the halftime locker room, up 33-27.

Rienk Mast finally got into a bit of rhythm to open the second half, burying a 3-pointer in an attempt to keep the Terps at bay. But Maryland’s offense wasn’t rattled. It didn’t revert to the same isolation playbook that it has sometimes found itself running; it instead was gritty on the glass and earned multiple second-chance opportunities.

Nebraska was being worn down on defense, and its crowd was becoming less intense. Maryland just needed to establish some prolonged momentum.

But the game remained deadlocked for the ensuing minutes. Andre Mills began to display some of the athletic lane-driving traits he’s exhibited over the past 10 contests. But he also drilled a pair of long-range jumpers, quickly becoming the team’s leading second-half scorer.

As the clock ticked below 10 minutes left with the game decided by just a matter of points, the Terps’ offense hit a stagnant stretch. Coit took four consecutive shots — and made only one — while the team’s ball movement came to a screeching halt.

After Nebraska’s 9-0 run, things didn’t realign on the attack for Maryland. Coit continued to struggle, going 2-of-6 from three in the second half. Mills also missed back-to-back looks, and from there, the result was all but decided.

1. Elijah Saunders’ big day. With Mills struggling in the first half Wednesday, Saunders picked up some of the slack. The 40% 3-point shooter made half of his looks, resulting in a season-high five 3-pointers against the Cornhuskers. That comes just one game after he set his previous season-high of four 3-pointers against Washington.

2. Paint production erased. Maryland’s frontcourt did some damage Wednesday night, but much of it came from deep. The Terps finished with just 14 points in the paint compared to Nebraska’s 26. Despite both teams grabbing seven offensive rebounds, Maryland didn’t make much of the second chance opportunities in the restricted area.

3. More Del Pino minutes. After playing 27 minutes and securing the win with an alley-oop lob against Washington, Del Pino was on the court for 15 minutes Wednesday. Though he finished without any points, he seems to have earned Williams’ trust and continues to operate the floor well from a distribution perspective.

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