With the firing of John Butler, the Nebraska football program is on the hunt for its third defensive coordinator in four seasons. There are plenty of attractive names out there that might be great options for the Huskers.
On the flip side, there are a few names that have been thrown around that the Cornhuskers should stay away from. Some of those names are just because they don't measure up for a Power 4 conference job. Others are because it feels like it would simply be the wrong move at the wrong time.
While Phil Snow is currently the interim defensive coordinator for Nebraska, it feels like he can stay off a list of candidates as he almost certainly won't take the position full-time. If he had wanted it, he would have gotten the job last year over Butler.
Addison Williams would be the wrong move at the wrong time for Nebraska
Matt Rhule went in-house last year when he replaced Tony White. There is always a chance he could do it again with Addison Williams. The former UCF coach does have experience as a defensive coordinator, but he would be the wrong pick for this moment in time.
The Huskers need someone with a longer and more successful track record than Williams currently offers. There's also the fact that the defensive backfield was a strength of Nebraska's defense, and it would be nice to keep continuity there with another change at DC.
DJ Durkin should never set foot in Lincoln
While DJ Durkin has built a reputation as an excellent defensive coordinator, there's simply too much ugly baggage for Nebraska to ever bring this guy on staff.
Some Husker fans might be willing to overlook a history that includes a player under his watch passing away, but there are plenty of top-notch names out there and available that don't have the kind of history that Durkin does.
Trent Bray is an attractive name that Nebraska should steer clear of
Of all the guys on this list, the former Oregon State head coach might be the one who has an argument to get off it. Bray also happens to be a former Husker assistant under Mike Riley and was even NU's interim head coach after Riley was fired and before Scott Frost came on board.
While there are plenty of DCs and OCs that are better coordinators than head coaches, Bray's time in Corvallis was marked by quite a few rumors of poor communication and leadership, and a near revolt of the locker room before he was fired. Bray could be a guy who might be a nice addition as an assistant for Nebraska, but someone else should lead the defense.
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