Nebraska coordinator Dana Holgorsen says it was 'an easy decision' to return for 2025

USA Today

28-03-2025

Nebraska coordinator Dana Holgorsen says it was 'an easy decision' to return for 2025
Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen met with the media on Thursday following the Huskers' spring practice. Holgorsen is entering his second season with Nebraska after joining Matt Rhule's coaching staff with four games remaining in the 2024 season.
Holgorsen will earn $1.2 million this season, but he won't be the highest-paid member of the offensive staff. Tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield will make $1.4 million in 2025, his salary as offensive coordinator before being replaced by Holgorsen.
The Huskers won't play a traditional spring game this year. The Husker Games will take place on Saturday, April 26, allowing fans to preview Nebraska football, volleyball and soccer teams for the 2025 season.
On the football field, the Huskers will feature 7-on-7 games and skills competitions similar to the NFL's Pro Bowl games. Nebraska greats of the past will also participate in various skills competitions. There will also be a women's flag football game between Midland University and the UNL all-star intramural team.
Nebraska volleyball will also participate in the day's festivities. The Huskers will face the Kansas Jayhawks in a spring match with a 6:30 p.m. CT start time. The soccer team will host a spring exhibition match against the Wyoming Cowboys. The game starts at 4:30 p.m. CT with free admission.
On figuring out an identity
'It was challenging to come in and dissect everything and figure out who we wanted to get the ball to and figure out what plays we wanted to run. I did narrow it down by about 50 percent and then came up with the call sheet. Over the course of those four games, every game I was calling it, I understood it more. January 2nd I came back. Coach (Matt) Rhule wanted me to come back on January 1, but I needed a couple of days off. I've never worked so hard in my life. It was good that I didn't go out on the road, so I sat here for a month, watched every cut-up, and figured out stuff I wanted to do and didn't want to do.
On changes to the scheme
"If there are subtle changes in terminology, sets or plays, a majority of it's going to stay the same. We have good coaches here. This is a good scheme. It makes sense to Dylan (Raiola). It makes sense to Coach (Dominic) Raiola. From an o-line perspective, it is incredibly important. I made some changes in the passing game and different sets that make sense. I came up with three good installs that we've been through a couple of times. I have to figure out what our team is and what our offense is regarding the direction it goes."
On the importance of spring football
"I can take the same offense we had. I can be comfortable with it, but I'll tweak it based on what I see as good and bad. That's what spring football is all about, so excited to be in it. I've been here working with them for four weeks, and in the offseason, mat drills and commitment week, but we got some football stuff. Now, it's just figuring out who our players are and what we are doing well.'
On the value of coaching the last four games of the season
'Those four games were valuable. When I was here in January, I learned all of their names for the first time. I knew who they were and what they could do. I spent a lot of time recruiting on campus with all the guys coming in. I did a lot of that. Those four games were valuable. If I had just taken over and started rolling in January, my head would be spinning right now. I can't explain how valuable it was over those four weeks. Although it was challenging, I was so happy. I was glad Coach Rhule allowed me to do it.
On the decision to come back
"It was an easy decision to come back. Knowing the guys, we've got a pretty good quarterback and good coaches. The program's direction with Coach Rhule is that I'm growing as that coach. I learn new things every day, a new way of doing things. Nebraska is a great place. I wake up happy and walk my butt to work every day, even when it is minus 15, and I am walking to work questioning my sanity and decision for the 12 minutes it takes me to get here.
On where the team is right now
"It is an exciting time. The offseason was great. I learned a lot. And three days into spring, the effort and energy are excellent, so I am fired up about where we are right now.'
On taking time off
'Nobody was here, everybody was on the road recruiting. The whole month of January is a challenging recruiting month. I think Coach was out for about two weeks, so he wasn't even in here. And a lot of the players weren't here. Then they started coming in mid-January, had a lot of meetings with those guys, and did a lot of recruiting dinners. Then, on February 1, we took two weeks off. That was cool. Then we came back for four weeks, and that is when the staff meetings started. That is when we started meeting as an offensive staff. I gave them all my thoughts. This is what we are going to do.
On the changes to the coaching staff
"You guys know, talking to the staff, this is what I have decided it is going to look like. They had no learning curve. They were with Coach (Daikiel) Shorts Jr. because he was the only new guy. We started meeting as a staff, and it made sense to everybody. This is what it is going to look like, and this is how we are going to do it, so they were fired up about it.'
The Huskers will continue with spring practice on Saturday.