Nebraska football dodges another Tony White scare with UCLA hire

Nebraska football fans all over the world can breathe a sigh of relief. This isn't the first time that sentence has been written this winter. Tony White has been a very popular man whenever the coaching carousel started spinning up.

The latest reason for hyperventilation came when Chip Kelly left the UCLA Bruins to take over as offensive coordinator for Ohio State. That opening had Tony White as one of the favorites to land the job. That was until UCLA announced on Monday morning that assistant coach and former star player Deshaun Foster.

White was named as a candidate almost immediately after the Bruins started their search. That he was a candidate made quite a bit of sense, considering if he'd gotten hired, it would mean he was returning to his alma mater.

On Sunday night and earlier Monday morning, enough people turned down one of the newest additions to the Big Ten that it looked even more likely that Tony White might get the job. But now worries that Nebraska football would have to engage in its own coaching search can be put to rest.

Nebraska football dodges another Tony White scare with UCLA hire

White has been praised for his work with the Huskers' defense, which ranked second in the Big Ten in yards per carry allowed (2.97) in 2023. He also has experience coaching on the West Coast, having spent time at Arizona State and San Diego State before joining Nebraska.

White, 44, has never been a head coach at the college level, but he is considered an up-and-coming coordinator who is bound to get a head coaching opportunity soon. UCLA, looking for a fresh start after Kelly's disappointing tenure, was thought to be an ideal destination for White to showcase his skills and reconnect with his roots by some.

With Deshaun Foster officially the hire for the Bruins, it appears Nebraska football survived another potential loss of Tony White. And this time it feels safe to assume he'll be here to start the 2024 season for sure.