Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule has a bold vision for the future of college football coaching. In a recent interview with Josh Pate, Rhule shared his belief that the next wave of successful head coaches won’t necessarily come from the pool of elite play callers.
Instead, he pointed to two former assistants — Fran Brown at Syracuse and Joey McGuire at Texas Tech — as examples of leaders who could shape the sport’s future.
Matt Rhule Shares What Two Assistants Who Has What It Takes
Brown and McGuire have something in common besides their ties to Rhule: Neither was a play-calling coordinator before becoming head coach. Yet, they are thriving in their roles.
Brown led Syracuse to an impressive 10-3 record, while McGuire continues to build a competitive program at Texas Tech. Their success backs up Rhule’s assertion that college football is shifting away from the traditional model of promoting coordinators to head coaches.
“Neither one of them were ever a play-calling coordinator, but they are leaders. They are leaders of men and they know how to put together a roster,” Rhule said during his interview with Pate.
Great head coaching candidates aren’t always former play callers. Good stuff from @CoachMattRhule. pic.twitter.com/weWCH9F1ia
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) February 17, 2025
He emphasized that the most important skill for head coaches today is not necessarily calling plays but managing a team and developing talent.
“I can hire a great play-caller,” Rhule explained. “But sometimes we think that to be a head coach, you have to be a great play-caller. No. My day starts and ends with everything else other than what we’re going to call on third down.”
Rhule’s insights come at a time when the coaching landscape is still dominated by former coordinators moving up the ranks. However, he sees potential for change if Brown, McGuire, and others like them continue to find success.
The trend could even mirror the NFL, where leaders such as Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions are proving that motivational leadership and roster management can be more crucial than calling plays.
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As college football evolves, Rhule’s faith in leadership over X’s and O’s could inspire athletic directors to reconsider how they evaluate head coaching candidates.
If his former assistants continue to thrive, Rhule might be proven right, ushering in a new era of leadership-driven coaching in college football.
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