Nebraska Head Coach Bill Callahan announced on Thursday that Buddy Wyatt has been hired as an assistant coach with the Husker football program. Wyatt will join Callahan’s staff immediately as defensive line coach and will assist the Huskers during their preparation for the Cotton Bowl.
The 40-year-old Wyatt brings 15 years of Division I coaching experience to the Huskers, and comes to Nebraska following four seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Alabama. During Wyatt’s tenure in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide annually ranked among the nation’s top defenses.
This season, Alabama ranked 18th nationally in total defense and 29th in scoring defense. A year ago, the defense paced the Crimson Tide to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory, ranking first nationally in scoring defense (10.7 ppg), second in total defense (255.1 ypg), and ninth against the run (94.3 ypg). Alabama also ranked second nationally in total defense in 2004 (245.5 ypg) and was seventh in scoring defense that season.
Wyatt is also recognized as one of the nation’s top recruiters. Wyatt has been responsible for recruiting the Mississippi High School Player of Year to the Crimson Tide program each of the past two seasons—running back Terry Grant in 2006 and Jimmy Johns in 2005. Wyatt helped attract top 20 recruiting classes to Tuscaloosa in each of the past three seasons, while focusing much of his recruiting efforts in the state of Florida.
A native of Victoria, Texas, Wyatt also has an outstanding track record of recruiting in the state of Texas, specifically during his time at Texas A&M from 2000 to 2002. Among Wyatt’s top recruits with the Aggies was defensive lineman Johnny Jolly, who is in his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers.
Callahan said Wyatt’s background as one of the nation’s top defensive line coaches makes him an excellent addition to the Husker staff.
"Coach Wyatt has a long track record of developing outstanding defensive lines at each stop in his coaching career,” Callahan said. “He has familiarity with the Big 12 Conference and a proven track record as an outstanding recruiter. We are very excited to have him be a part of our football program and eager to get him started at Nebraska.”
In addition to his most recent stop at the University of Alabama, Wyatt has five years of experience at Big 12 Conference schools, working as a defensive line coach at Oklahoma State, Colorado and Texas A&M. He said he is excited to return to the conference and join Callahan’s staff.
“I’m very excited about becoming a part of the Husker Nation,” Wyatt said. “They have great tradition there and it is a program on the rise. I got a chance to meet a lot of the coaches while I was there. They all got along very well and they all have one mission—winning championships. Nebraska is a good place and it is a program that I feel I can help to be successful.”
Wyatt took over the Alabama defensive line after three seasons as part of R.C. Slocum’s coaching staff at Texas A&M from 2000 to 2002. While with the Aggies, Wyatt helped coach future NFL players Rocky Bernard, Ty Warren, Ronald Edwards and Ronald Flemons, and assisted on two A&M teams that played in bowl games. Nebraska Associate Athletic Director for Football Operations Tim Cassidy was on the Texas A&M staff with Wyatt.
Wyatt was a member of Gary Barnett’s coaching staffs for three seasons from 1997 to 1999. He coached the Northwestern defensive line in 1997 and 1998, then moved to the University of Colorado with Barnett in 1999, where he helped the Buffs to an appearance in the Insight.com Bowl. While Wyatt was a member of Barnett’s staffs he worked with Husker tight ends coach Shawn Watson, who served as an offensive assistant under Barnett at both schools.
Wyatt’s first stop in the Big 12 Conference came at Oklahoma State in 1996, where he served as the defensive line coach for Head Coach Bob Simmons. While with the Cowboys, Wyatt coached defensive tackle Jamal Williams, who is currently one of the top defensive linemen in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers.
The first full-time coaching stop for Wyatt came at the University of Minnesota from 1992 to 1995. He served under Head Coach Jim Wacker, who was Wyatt’s college coach at TCU.
Wyatt played for the Horned Frogs as a defensive lineman from 1986 to 1989. He graduated from TCU with a degree in education in 1990. After two seasons in the professional ranks, Wyatt returned to his alma mater where he served as a graduate assistant during the 1991 campaign.
Buddy Wyatt Background
Born: Nov. 8, 1966
Family: Wife, Andrea; Son, Fredrick; Daughter-Ariel.
Education: TCU, bachelor’s degree in education, 1990
Playing Experience: TCU, defensive line, 1986-89
Coaching Experience: 1991, TCU (graduate assistant/defensive line), 1992-95, Minnesota (assistant coach/defensive line); 1996, Oklahoma State (assistant coach/defensive line); 1997-98, Northwestern (assistant coach/defensive line); 1999, Colorado (assistant coach/defensive line); 2000-02, Texas A&M (assistant coach/defensive line); 2003-06, Alabama (assistant coach/defensive line).
