LINCOLN, Neb. — On the perceived epicenter of a one-day-old Penn State soccer teaching search, Matt Rhule addressed hypothesis Monday about his curiosity within the Nittany Lions. And the Nebraska coach flexed his new leverage with the Huskers.
Rhule’s Huskers debuted on this season’s Related Press Prime 25 as Penn State fired coach James Franklin on Sunday, six video games into his eleventh season. Rhule performed linebacker at Penn State for Joe Paterno and teamed with PSU athletic director Pat Kraft for 3 years at Temple to rebuild that Philadelphia program.
His ties to Penn State positioned Rhule among the many projected candidates to fill the emptiness, together with Indiana’s Curt Cignetti and Matt Campbell of Iowa State.
“I believe I most likely had a Penn State shirt on after I was born,” mentioned Rhule, who attended highschool in State School earlier than attending PSU from 1994-97. “I like Pat Kraft. And I’m actually unhappy to see Coach Franklin go. You concentrate on what he did for my alma mater. This system was in peril (when Franklin arrived).”
The 50-year-old Nebraska coach mentioned he wouldn’t talk about specifics of the opening.
“It’s perhaps been some time right here, however that is what occurs while you win,” Rhule mentioned. “I’ve handled it. … I’m not going to speak about these issues ever. I’m not going to speak about my contract right here. I’m going to speak concerning the crew. However I completely adore it right here, and I wish to proceed to take the steps wanted for us to show this factor right into a beast.”
The Huskers are 5-1 this 12 months underneath Rhule, whose file midway via his third season at Nebraska stands at 17-14.
He was requested what Nebraska must bolster its bid to return to nationwide prominence. The Huskers not too long ago invested $165 million in a soccer headquarters. A five-time nationwide champion program, Nebraska final received a convention title in 1999. It snapped an eight-year postseason drought final 12 months in ending 7-6.
“We have now to be unabashed,” Rhule mentioned. “We are able to’t all the time fear concerning the optics of all the pieces. It’s a extremely arduous time in larger schooling. There’s cuts. However athletics is a separate entity. We’re not taking cash from the college.”
Finances cuts on the College of Nebraska have been cited this 12 months by athletic director Troy Dannen in delaying a undertaking to renovate Memorial Stadium.
Rhule known as for a bigger funding from Nebraska’s donor base in title, picture and likeness funding. The Huskers’ collective, 1890 Nebraska, owned and primarily funded by the Peed household of Lincoln, is considered aggressive amongst Energy 4 packages. But it surely seemingly doesn’t place the Huskers within the high 10 of NIL spending.
“In a world of $30 and $40 million rosters, which isn’t going away, I’d like us to do the identical factor,” Rhule mentioned. “There’s type of like a ‘Hey, that’s probably not the Nebraska method.’ And I’d prefer it to be. I’d wish to be on the entrance of all the pieces.”
Earlier than the search in State School advances, right here’s what we have to find out about Rhule’s involvement:
Does Penn State need Rhule?
Rhule is 2-23 as a head coach in opposition to opponents ranked within the AP Prime 25. He’s 0-18 since he left Temple in 2015. He’s 0-7 at Nebraska. And he’s 0-11 in opposition to high 10 groups.
Franklin was fired after back-to-back losses in opposition to unranked UCLA and Northwestern. However his undoing started due to a poor file in opposition to top-10 groups. Many Penn State followers and donors would possibly view Rhule as an underwhelming candidate. And it’s potential Kraft will see a candidate’s confirmed success in opposition to School Soccer Playoff-level groups as important.
Does Rhule need Penn State?
The decision of house is usually sturdy. However Rhule is conscious of inevitable private conflicts that come up when a coach takes over at his alma mater. He adopted Scott Frost at Nebraska and noticed fallout from a training regime marked by an uncomfortable relationship between Frost and plenty of factions in his house state.
Rhule talked about Monday that he was dissatisfied by tales of Penn State followers who yelled at Franklin’s children.
“I’m not a cyborg,” Rhule mentioned. “I’ve two little women. I’ve a spouse.”
In speaking about Nebraska followers, Rhule mentioned he feels snug along with his daughters within the stands at video games.
“You may’t try this in all places,” he mentioned. “However we are able to try this at Nebraska, as a result of the individuals listed here are the perfect individuals on this planet.”
Rhule’s spouse, Julie, additionally a Penn State graduate, “decides the place we dwell,” he mentioned. Julie Rhule opened a hair salon in Lincoln final 12 months. Their son attends school at Nebraska. Matt’s mother and father relocated to close by Omaha.
“I like all of this,” he mentioned. “It is a excellent place. And I simply need us to be constructive about this place and the place we’re headed. We’re in a great place. I simply wish to maintain rolling.”
Right here’s what we do know:
Penn State AD Pat Kraft’s relationship with Matt Rhule goes again to their days at Temple. Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Photos
The Rhule-Kraft relationship is powerful
As coach and AD at Temple, they engineered an eight-win enchancment from Rhule’s first season to his third. Kraft suggested former Nebraska AD Trev Alberts after he employed Rhule in 2022.
“Simply do what Matt says, and also you guys will likely be tremendous,” Kraft instructed The Athletic final 12 months, recalling his dialog with Alberts.
Kraft and Rhule speak typically. The Penn State athletic director helped join Rhule with Troy Dannen, then the AD at Washington, in March 2024 after Alberts left for Texas A&M. Kraft and Dannen, the Nebraska AD, stay shut from their time collectively within the American Convention.
Kraft described Rhule on the time as “like a brother to me” and “cool as a cucumber.”
“I’ve discovered and proceed to be taught so much from Matt,” Kraft mentioned.
Rhule welcomes the eye
He’s been clear all through his time at Nebraska. Rhule hosts a podcast and seems usually with nationwide media figures to spice up his picture and the Huskers’ model within the bid to advance as a program.
He addressed the Penn State hypothesis on Monday, although not as immediately as some Nebraska followers needed. It was unreasonable to anticipate, although, that Rhule would take himself out of the operating. He would possibly need the job. He won’t know.
However If Rhule knew already that he was the selection of Kraft and supposed to just accept, he seemingly wouldn’t have made such a case for deeper investments in NIL spending at Nebraska.
Rhule additionally is aware of that if Nebraska didn’t win Huge Ten video games up to now two weeks in opposition to Michigan State and Maryland, he wouldn’t be seen as such a commodity. The Huskers have an opportunity Friday at Minnesota to win highway video games in consecutive weeks for the primary time since 2006.
“That is good. It’s method higher than after I was at Carolina and I used to be on the recent seat,” Rhule mentioned. “Nothing has occurred. That is about our gamers. It is because our gamers are so good. That is a part of the deal.”
It’s on Nebraska to step up
The job for Dannen, Nebraska’s second-year AD, bought extra annoying this week. Dannen knew Rhule’s needs on spending earlier than the coach spoke out on Monday. However there’s no extra being bashful due to price range cuts on the educational aspect if Nebraska needs to finest place itself to maintain Rhule.
Rhule is making $7.5 million this 12 months. Escalators take his wage to $12.5 million in 2030, with retention bonuses of $1 million in place for 2027, 2029 and 2030.
The Penn State opening will increase urgency for Nebraska to try to increase Rhule’s contract. However the extra urgent matter includes NIL assets. Dannen will commit time to unfold the message amongst donors and potential donors. Little doubt the AD will likely be greeted with extra enthusiasm if Nebraska wins this week, establishing a November run at a 10-win season or higher.
Rhule mentioned he talks always with Dannen about their imaginative and prescient for Nebraska.
“I got here right here for 2 causes,” Rhule mentioned. “I like the group right here and needed to dwell right here. And I needed to rebuild Nebraska soccer. Troy and I perceive the steps that we have to take to make us Huge Ten champions and nationwide champions.”
