At his first media availability since Nebraska was selected for the Las Vegas Bowl, coach Matt Rhule confirmed that the Huskers would be hiring Rob Aurich as defensive coordinator and Geep Wade as offensive line coach. Rhule further announced that Terry Bradden, who just completed his first year as NU defensive line coach, would be replaced.
Bradden joins Donovan Raiola (offensive line coach) and John Butler (defensive coordinator) as the third Husker staffer to be dismissed since back-to-back blowout losses to Penn State and Iowa ended the regular season. Bradden had just completed his first year with Nebraska after serving on Andy Reid’s staff with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Aurich was the Aztecs’ DC for just one season, but in that season, San Diego State had the best scoring defense in the Mountain West, allowing just 12.6 points per game while shutting out three opponents. His defense allowed 15 fewer points per game than SDSU’s defense allowed the year before.
Aurich is a Michigan native and played his college football at Minnesota-Duluth. He coached three years at Bemidji State and four at South Dakota before moving to Idaho in 2022 and 2023. Aurich originally went to San Diego as a position coach before taking over defensive play calling duties this season.
Wade’s line with the Yellow Jackets paved the way for Tech to rush for 203 yards per game (second in the ACC) while allowing just nine sacks this season, the fewest allowed by any ACC line this season. By contrast, Nebraska allowed nine sacks to Minnesota alone. Wade’s first line with the Yellow Jackets led the ACC in rushing, and his second line finished second. Tech also was the best pass protection line in the ACC, allowing the fewest sacks of any ACC team in his first two years there. Wade also has familiarity with two NU offensive staffers, having coached with current quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas at Midwestern State in 2005 and Marcus Satterfield at Chattanooga in 2011 and 2012.
Wade’s unique name is derived from his initials, Gideon Pool Wade IV.
