Amid swirling rumors of a prominent job offer, Nebraska associate head coach/defensive coordinator Tony White signed a restructured contract with a significant pay raise.
Nebraska officials said Friday that White, a nominee for the Broyles Award in both 2022 and 2023, will earn $1.6 million over each of the final two seasons on his contract, up from $1 million.
The Broyles Award is given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Rumors this week placed White as a top candidate to replace the fired Alex Grinch at Southern California. He also reportedly had been a candidate for the head-coaching jobs at Syracuse and San Diego State.
Now, White is set to stay in Lincoln with a 60 percent pay increase, which reportedly makes him the highest-paid assistant coach in Nebraska history.
In his first season at Nebraska in 2023, White created a defense that was the nation’s third-most improved unit against the run and fourth-most improved in total defense.
Eight members of the Nebraska defense were recognized as All-Big Ten players in a season the Cornhuskers finished 5-7 (3-6 Big Ten).
“Tony White has all the attributes you look for in a coordinator or assistant coach,” Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said. “He builds great relationships with his players and fellow coaches and is an elite teacher and communicator. We made great strides on defense this past season, and I look forward to continuing to work with Tony as we move forward and build this program.”
Nebraska allowed 303.5 yards per game in 2023, the best total defense average at the school since 2009.
White, 44, played at UCLA and had a brief career in the Canadian Football League before becoming a coach in 2007. Before Nebraska, White spent one season as the defensive coordinator at Arizona State (2019) and three at Syracuse (2020-22)
