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Report: Nebraska Football to Hire Former NFL Assistant for Open Secondary Position

An opening on the staff Friday could be filled this weekend as Nebraska football looks to replace Evan Cooper as secondary coach with a former NFL and Big Ten assistant.
Kaleb Henry|
Jul 27, 2022; Pittsford, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach John Butler gives instruction during training camp at St. John Fisher University.
Jul 27, 2022; Pittsford, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive backs coach John Butler gives instruction during training camp at St. John Fisher University. | Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

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Nebraska football could be closing in on a replacement for its suddenly open assistant coach position.

Evan Cooper resigned his post as secondary coach and passing game coordinator Friday. He had worked for 11 consecutive seasons under Matt Rhule.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that Rhule is expected to hire John Butler as the new secondary coach.

Butler parted ways with the Buffalo Bills in February after six seasons as the defensive backs coach and two as the passing game coordinator. He also worked for four years with the Houston Texans before that.

John Butler in 2013 with Penn State
Nov 2, 2013; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive coordinator John Butler signals from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Illinois 24-17. | Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Prior to the NFL, Butler notched Big Ten Conference coaching experience as an assistant at Penn State (2012-13) and Minnesota (2007-10). His final year with the Nittany Lions saw him as defensive coordinator as well.

Butler's other coaching stops include South Carolina, Harvard, Southwest Texas State (now just Texas State), Midwestern State (Div. II), and Texas as a graduate assistant. His experience beyond the secondary includes linebackers and special teams.

Nebraska football 18 days out from appearing at Big Ten Media Days and 56 days out from the start of the 2024 season against UTEP.

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Kaleb Henry
KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

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