NEBRASKA CITY - The University of Nebraska announced a two-year contract extension for Coach Matt Rhule through the 2032 season.

The university listed the program’s first bowl victory since 2015, a 6-2 start this season and the highest grade point average for the football team in program history.

Former Husker Damon Benning told his Big Red Buzz audience at Nebraska City that the dollars were not the primary driver for Coach Rhule. The University press release says the agreement does not change the base salary, but has escalators for College Football Playoff appearances.

Coach Rhule introduced Benning in a special edition of the coach’s podcast House Rhules, where he said the decision was about finding a home and making a home.

Coach Rhule said he tells recruits they can go look at many houses, but the task is finding a home. He said his wife Julie told him she wants to raise their daughters in Nebraska.

Benning is close to the program as a former player, two-time national champion, media professional and parent of Husker defensive back Caleb Benning. He said he has always felt that Coach Rhule genuinely likes Nebraska.

Benning: “For him I think this is a place where he has kind of always wanted to be.”

Benning said the timing of the extension follows coaching job openings at Penn State and other spots, but said Coach Rhule was not using the situation as leverage. He said the timing of the extension is a message to players.

He said the podcast offers a good glimpse of what Coach Rhule is thinking.

Benning: “I’ve said this all along and he may burn me. I don’t know. He might. He may not win more than seven games the time he is here, but you want his characteristics. You want his personality traits as a leader in this program because he has resolve, he’s honest, he’s got a ton of conviction and he works hard.”

  

A man’s whole life is a succession of moment after moment. There will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue. Live being true to the single purpose of the moment.”

Yamamoto Tsunetomo – Hagakure