Tennessee football assistant leaving for Big Ten school

Posted by author February 3, 2025 Football

Spread the love

Tennessee football assistant coach Mike Ekeler is leaving the Vols for Nebraska, according to Austin Price of On3.

Ekeler served as Tennessee’s outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator from 2021-24. He previously served as Nebraska’s linebackers coach from 2008-10.

Ekeler joins Matt Rhule’s staff at Nebraska. Rhule has been the Cornhuskers‘ head coach since 2023, compiling a 12-13 (6-12 Big Ten). Nebraska appeared in its first bowl game in 2024 since losing to Tennessee in the 2016 Music City Bowl.

Ekeler went to Tennessee from North Texas where he served as the Mean Green’s special teams coordinator in 2020. It was his second stint with North Texas after previously serving as defensive coordinator in 2016.

Prior to North Texas, Ekeler was special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Kansas (2018-19). He oversaw linebackers at North Carolina from 2017-18.

From 2014-15, Ekeler was inside linebackers coach and co-special teams coordinator at Georgia. He served as linebackers coach at USC in 2013 and Indiana’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from (2011-12) after his first stint with the Cornhuskers.

Ekeler played linebacker at Kansas State from 1991-94.