Matt Rhule and Nebraska football are using its Week 11 bye week to add much-needed offensive help to the program.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Cornhuskers have hired former Houston and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen as an offensive consultant. With just three games left in the regular season schedule, Holgorsen’s role is expected to expand for the rest of the season.
The Cornhuskers (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) have scored just 44 points over their three-game losing streak and have only scored more than 30 points twice on the season. Nebraska needs one more win to achieve a bowl berth, which will be valuable in gaining extra reps for true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Through nine games, Nebraska ranks 107th nationally in yards per play and 100th in scoring offense.
Raiola has completed 176 of 272 passes (64.7%) for 1,921 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions but has yet to surpass 300 passing yards in a single game this season.
Here’s what you need to know about Holgorsen and how he can impact the Nebraska offense:
Who is Dana Holgorsen?
Holgorsen was most recently the Houston football head coach from 2019 to 2023, posting a 31-28 record. However, he was fired by the Cougars following the 2023 season after the team went 4-8 and struggled in their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Houston paid Holgorsen $14.8 million over four years for his buyout. The Cougars had gone 12-2 in 2021 and 8-5 in 2022 before the conference move.
Before Houston, Holgorsen began his head coaching career with West Virginia from 2011-18. He posted a 61-41 record with the Mountaineers over eight seasons, including a 10-3 record during the 2016 season. Holgorsen resigned from the Mountaineers job on Jan. 1, 2019, to take the coaching position at Houston, where he had previously worked under Kevin Sumlin as an offensive coordinator.
Holgorsen played collegiate football as a receiver at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa. He then transferred to Iowa Wesleyan, where he played under legendary coach Hal Mumme and offensive coordinator Mike Leach. He is a disciple of the Air Raid offense, which Mumme and Leach made famous, as he coached under Mumme and Leach as an assistant for years.
Dan Holgorsen coaching record
Here’s a look at Holgorsen’s record in his 13 years as a head coach, with stops at West Virginia and Houston:
2011 (West Virginia): 10-3, 5-2 Big East
2012 (West Virginia): 7-6, 4-5 Big 12
2013 (West Virginia): 4-8, 2-7 Big 12
2014 (West Virginia): 7-6, 5-4 Big 12
2015 (West Virginia): 8-5, 4-5 Big 12
2016 (West Virginia): 10-3, 7-2 Big 12
2017 (West Virginia): 7-6, 5-4 Big 12
2018 (West Virginia): 8-4, 6-3 Big 12
2019 (Houston): 4-8, 2-6 AAC
2020 (Houston): 3-5, 3-3 AAC
2021 (Houston): 12-2, 8-0 AAC
2022 (Houston): 8-5, 4-3 AAC
2023 (Houston): 4-8, 2-7 Big 12
Career: 92-69