Nebraska football has officially added a new name to its coaching staff, bringing in Corey Brown as the Huskers’ new defensive line coach. Brown arrives in Lincoln with a strong track record of developing productive defensive fronts-and he’s no stranger to Nebraska’s new defensive coordinator, Rob Aurich.
The two worked together back in 2021 at South Dakota, and that connection clearly carried weight in this hire. Aurich saw Brown’s coaching style up close during that season, and it’s clear there was mutual respect. Now, they’re reuniting in Lincoln, with the goal of building a defensive line that can hold its own in the trenches of the Big Ten.
Brown’s most recent stop was at Miami (Ohio), where his 2024 defense quietly put together one of the stronger performances in the MAC. The RedHawks finished third in the conference in scoring defense (18.8 points per game), total defense (331.4 yards), rushing defense (137.1), and pass defense (194.3). Just as important, they were the MAC’s top red zone defense and forced 23 turnovers-a sign of a group that knew how to tighten up when it mattered most.
And when it came to getting after the quarterback, Brown’s unit didn’t disappoint. Miami racked up 29 sacks on the year, even with some shifting personnel up front. That kind of production speaks to Brown’s ability to scheme pressure and develop pass rushers-and the numbers back it up.
In 2023, under Brown’s guidance, Caiden Woullard emerged as a force off the edge, earning first-team All-MAC honors with 9.5 sacks. Teammates Ty Wise and Brian Ugwu weren’t far behind, each notching eight sacks of their own.
That trio all finished in the top five in sacks across the conference. And as a team, Miami’s defense ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense at 15.9 points per game.
In MAC play, they allowed just 86 points across eight games-an average of 10.8 points per game-the fewest allowed in league play since 2000. That’s not just a solid stat; it’s a historic one.
Before his time at Miami, Brown spent two seasons at South Dakota, where his defensive line helped the Coyotes rack up 52 sacks over that stretch. That’s the kind of production that gets noticed-and it clearly did by Aurich, who was on staff during Brown’s tenure there.
Brown’s résumé also includes experience at Rutgers in the Big Ten from 2018-19, a stint as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame, and early-career work at Iowa Western, where he coached defensive line and handled strength and conditioning duties from 2009-11. He’s no stranger to the Midwest-and no stranger to the grind of building tough, physical defensive units.
As a player, Brown lined up at defensive tackle for Iowa in the late 1990s, so he knows what it’s like to battle in the trenches at the Power Five level. That background, paired with his coaching pedigree, gives Nebraska a coach who understands the position from both sides of the whistle.
Head coach Matt Rhule spoke highly of Brown earlier this week during an appearance on The Zach Gelb Show. Rhule emphasized the thorough nature of the hiring process and made it clear that Brown stood out.
“We interviewed a couple guys because I wanted to make sure we were right,” Rhule said. “And I interviewed Corey Brown...
At Miami of Ohio, they were third in the country in sacks. He’s produced sacks.
He produced Adam Trick, who just signed a big deal at Texas Tech. So I feel great about him.
He’s been in the Big Ten, he’s done it at a really high level. And when I interviewed him, honestly, I was kind of mesmerized by his teaching progression, by his thought process.”
That last part-Brown’s teaching progression-is key. In today’s game, it’s not just about drawing up blitzes or stunting linemen into the backfield.
It’s about technique, development, and getting the most out of your talent. Brown’s track record suggests he checks those boxes.
For Nebraska, this hire is about more than just plugging a hole on the coaching staff. It’s about building a defense that can compete week in and week out in one of the most physical conferences in the country. And with Corey Brown now in the fold, the Huskers’ defensive front just got a little nastier-and a lot more intriguing.