A university spokesperson confirmed Friday that Evan Cooper, Nebraska’s secondary coach and Matt Rhule’s top talent evaluator, resigned for personal reasons.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report news of Cooper’s departure.
The 37-year-old Cooper played for Rhule at Temple before serving two stints as an assistant with the Owls. He followed Rhule to Baylor and the Carolina Panthers before the pair arrived at Nebraska.
Viewed as Rhule’s righthand man, Cooper played a major role in identifying prospects such as wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd, who had a breakout season in 2023.
Although Cooper has not released an official statement, Steve Marik of Rivals reports that his resignation was due to “personal reasons.”
Rhule and second-year defensive coordinator Tony White now have just a few weeks before the preseason opens to find Cooper’s replacement.
