The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Nebraska: a football coaching history

National Program II#42 of 138–
See Nebraska’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
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Program GOAT
Tom Osborne
3 Dynasty · 14 Blue-Blood seasons
Built by
Bob Devaney
Regional Program III → Dynasty (+56.5)
The fall
Bo Pelini
Blue Blood → Power Program I (−25.8)
Right now
Matt Rhule
the 9th-best of Nebraska's 11 coaches so far

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

★★★★★★★★program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)JonesGlassfordJenningsDevaneyOsborneSolichPeliniFrost19401960198020002020

Every coach

2023–now
Matt Rhulecaretaker
Matt Rhule slid Nebraska from National Program I to National Program II in 4 seasons.
National Program II
19–19
2022–2022
Mickey Josephshort tenure
3–6
2018–2022
Scott Frostcaretaker
Scott Frost held Nebraska at Power Program III for 5 seasons.
Power Program III
16–31
2015–2017
Mike Rileyinheritor
Mike Riley inherited a Power Program I Nebraska and won with it.
−8.3
19–19
2004–2007
Bill Callahaninheritor
Bill Callahan inherited a Blue Blood Nebraska and won with it.
−14.2
27–22
2003–2014
Bo Pelinidecliner
Nebraska fell from Blue Blood to Power Program I under Bo Pelini.
−25.8
67–27
1998–2003
Frank Solichsustainer
Frank Solich kept Nebraska a national power for 6 seasons.
−11.7
58–19
1973–1997
Tom Osbornesustainer
Tom Osborne kept Nebraska a national power for 14 seasons.
+10.2
255–49
1962–1972
Bob Devaneytransformer
Bob Devaney took Nebraska from Regional Program III to Dynasty — 2 Dynasty seasons.
+56.5
101–20
1957–1961
William Jenningscaretaker
William Jennings slid Nebraska from Regional Program II to Regional Program III in 5 seasons.
Regional Program III
15–34
1956–1956
Pete Elliottshort tenure
4–6
1949–1955
William Glassfordcaretaker
William Glassford moved Nebraska from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 7 seasons.
Regional Program I
30–35
1946–1947
Bernie Mastersonshort tenure
5–13
1945–1948
Potsy Clarkshort tenure
6–13
1943–1944
Adolph Lewandowskishort tenure
4–12
1942–1942
Glenn Presnellshort tenure
3–7
1937–1941
Biff Jonescaretaker
Biff Jones held Nebraska at Power Program II for 5 seasons.
Power Program II
28–14
1936–1936
Dana Bibleshort tenure
7–2