LINCOLN — Nebraska announced seven of head coach Scott Frost‘s football assistants Monday, and also released salary information that includes defensive coordinator Erik Chinander atop the list at $800,000.
All seven were with Frost this season at Central Florida, leading the Knights to a 12-0 record and American Athletic Conference championship.
The hires, their position and their salary for 2018:
Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander, $800,000
Offensive line coach Greg Austin, $475,000
Special teams and outside linebackers coach Jovan DeWitt, $475,000
Defensive backs coach Travis Fisher, $300,000
Running backs coach Ryan Held, $300,000
Quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco, $350,000
Defensive line coach Mike Dawson, $475,000
Chinander’s salary becomes the second-highest for any Husker assistant in school history. NU was paying former defensive coordinator Bob Diaco $825,000 in 2017.
Both Austin and Held are former Nebraska players. Look for former Husker All-American and All-Big 12 linebacker Barrett Ruud to become the Huskers’ 10th assistant in January, when NCAA teams are allowed to add an extra assistant to the staff.
According to an NU release, the new assistant coaches will all have two-year contacts through Dec. 31, 2019. All of the coaches are currently part-time employees to allow them to coach UCF in the Chick Fil-A Peach Bowl. Their status will change to full-time after that New Year’s Day game.
“This is an outstanding group of coaches and men of tremendous character who have played a key role in our success at UCF the past two seasons,” Frost said. “They are excellent teachers, mentors and recruiters and have earned great respect from the young men who play for them. I am proud they have chosen to join our staff as we get started at Nebraska.”
NU still needs to hire an offensive coordinator and a wide receivers coach. One candidate is current UCF interim head coach and offensive coordinator Troy Walters, who is a finalist for this year’s Broyles Award.
Austin, Held and Verduzco were part of the Knights’ offensive staff, helping UCF lead the nation in scoring offense at 49.4 points per game. UCF scored at least 30 points in all 12 games this season, and ranks fifth nationally in total offense at better than 540 yards per game.
