Coaching is a cut-throat business. Even on the “amateur” rungs of sport a la College Football. These are custodians in charge of multimillion-dollar entities at the end of the day. If the results aren’t in line with expectations, the hammer is bound to come down. That’s what happened with Nebraska’s former offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield who, after a string of poor performances, got demoted to tight ends coach only. A capacity he held in tandem with his role as OC. Months on from head coach Matt Rhule making this equal parts rational and cold-blooded decision, Satterfield has broken his silence on his feelings about the same.
The Huskers began the ‘24 season with pomp. The offense, considering it was spearheaded by a true freshman QB in Dylan Raiola, was humming. But consistency was always going to be hard to come by in this scenario. A 5-1 beginning to the season transpired into a precarious 5-4 with 3 conference losses on the bounce to Indiana, Ohio State and UCLA. The Big Red’s 7-year Bowl game drought was looming over Coach Rhule and the program. Something had to give. Unfortunately for him, the buck stopped with Marcus Satterfield.
In hindsight, the decision to demote Satterfield has worked out. His successor was Dana Holgorsen, who was promoted from in-house. Holgorsen initially joined Nebraska as a consultant to Matt Rhule’s staff after he was given his marching orders as HC of the Houston Cougars months prior. Almost instantaneously, it was as if Holgorsen’s experience permeated through to young Raiola via osmosis. Matt Rhule’s Huskers scored 44 points against another B1G contemporary in Nebraska 2 games later. Their biggest haul of the season. For context, they scored 44 total in that 3-game stretch. Alas, Marcus Satterfield can feel hard done by. But he’s keeping a largely positive outlook on things.
Huskers insider Sam McKewon relayed on X what Marcus Satterfield said upon being confronted about the demotion. “It was interesting. It didn’t actually go the way I wanted to go, obviously, for myself,” said Satterfield. McKewon added that, “[Satterfield] was pretty gracious about it, honestly. He’s ‘happier now than I’ve ever been in coaching’ and wanted to stay at NU. ‘What happened to me is no different than a player getting benched.’” This sort of clarity speaks to Satterfield’s character. Something Matt Rhule will be pleased about as he continues being an integral part of the program. Albeit in a lesser capacity, with lesser onus and responsibility. “I wanted to finish what I started…you practice what you preach,” resounded Satterfield in addition.
Nebraska TEs coach Marcus Satterfield on his late-season demotion from OC: “It was interesting. It didn’t actually go the way I wanted to go, obviously, for myself.”
He’s pretty gracious about it, honestly. He’s “happier now than I’ve ever been in coaching” and wanted to stay at…
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) April 8, 2025
As Nebraska enters the sophomore season of Dylan Raiola’s collegiate career, progression is requisite. Dana Holgorsen or Marcus Satterfield, it’s the quarterback that pulls the strings after all. Was it harsh to not show patience and restraint with Coach Satterfield while he’s working with a signal caller as raw and malleable? Perhaps. But as aforementioned, it’s a cut-throat industry and losing your job comes with the territory. For a blueblood program striving to make it back to its pedestal, that’s all the more true. Speaking of which, analyst J.D PicKell laid a cypher on just how much the mighty Huskers have fallen.
Matt Rhule’s decision on Marcus Satterfield is merely one wrinkle in a long journey ahead
Speaking over the On3 YouTube channel, J.D PicKell minced no words when putting into perspective the job Matt Rhule has on his hands. ““Nebraska, that fanbase, that program—they’re used to being rich,” he said. “You went from being rich to having a bowl drought. You went from flying private to being on the corner of the street… just begging for change.” Sure, the program isn’t where it was in under Tom Osborne. But snapping that drought does exemplify an upward trajectory, right? PicKell had some analogies for that too.
“They’ve gone from broke to having a steady job, can pay the bills, get pizza on a Friday night,” he said. For Matt Rhule to get to this sort of stability within 2 seasons, one of which was with a true freshman QB, does bode well. “You’ve got a quarterback now who I think… has the ability to put you over the top,” proceeded J.D PicKell. It’s been grim over the past few decades. But the sun is shining over Lincoln again. If that means Marcus Satterfield needs to take a backseat for the greater good, it’s a cost he’d be willing to exact.
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