Bill Busch

Nebraska (1990-93, 2004-07 & 2021-22)

Busch served as a defensive analyst for Nebraska in 2021, helping the Huskers develop one of their best defenses in recent years. Nebraska allowed only 22.7 points per game in 2021, the program’s lowest average since 2010.

In 2022, Busch helped dramatically improve Nebraska's special teams, as the Huskers ranked sixth nationally in punt return average (16.5), seventh in blocked punts (3) and 19th in blocked kicks (3). Punter Brian Buschini also ranked 25th nationally in punting average with the eighth-highest average in Nebraska history (44.0).

Busch was elevated to interim defensive coordinator after the first four games of the season, helping lead a turnaround for the Blackshirts. After Nebraska allowed 35.5 points and 514.0 yards per game in the first four games, the Blackshirts limited opponents to 23.6 points and 364.6 yards per game in Busch's eight games as interim defensive coordinator.

Busch served as an assistant coach at Nebraska from 2004 to 2007. In his first season, he coached the outside linebackers and served as special teams coordinator. Busch then coached the safeties and continued to handle special teams duties from 2005 to 2007. During his tenure, the Huskers blocked 16 kicks, including seven in 2005. Nebraska ranked in the top 25 nationally in net punting (24th in 2006) and punt returns (17th in 2005) under Busch. NU’s kickoff coverage unit ranked 15th nationally in 2006 after finishing 22nd the previous year.

Busch also spent four seasons as a graduate assistant with the Huskers from 1990 to 1993. Busch worked with the secondary at Nebraska, helping the Huskers to three straight Big Eight titles from 1991 to 1993.

Before Nebraska

LSU: Busch spent three seasons as the safeties coach at LSU from 2018 to 2020, helping the Tigers to a 15-0 record and the national championship in 2019. Busch coached LSU safety Grant Delpit to back-to-back first team All-America seasons in 2018 and 2019. Delpit, who also claimed the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back in 2019, was a unanimous All-American as a sophomore in 2018. Under Busch’s guidance LSU led the SEC in interceptions in both 2018 and 2019. The Tigers finished second in the conference in pass efficiency defense in 2018 and were the only SEC team to hold opposing quarterbacks below .500 in completion percentage (.497) in 2018. Off the field, Busch was one of LSU’s top recruiters and played a key role in the Tigers landing Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow as a graduate transfer quarterback.  

RUTGERS: Busch spent two seasons at Rutgers in 2016 and 2017 where he served as defensive backs coach in 2016 and then added the title of co-defensive coordinator in 2017. In 2016, Busch helped the Scarlet Knights rank among the nation’s best in both red zone defense (No. 6 at 72.7 percent) and passing defense (No. 18 at 186.5 yards per game).

OHIO STATE: Busch spent the 2015 season at Ohio State handling quality control on defense. He helped the Buckeyes to a 12-1 season and a No. 4 final ranking in his lone season in Columbus.

WISCONSIN: Prior to joining the Buckeyes, Busch worked for two seasons as the safeties coach at Wisconsin in 2013 and 2014. Busch also assisted with the special teams unit for the Badgers. In his first season at Wisconsin, Busch helped lead a defensive backfield that ranked 17th nationally in passing defense and tied for 13th in passing yards per attempt in 2013. Busch also served as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin in 1994.

UTAH STATE: Busch spent four seasons at Utah State from 2009 to 2012. In his first two seasons (2009-10), Busch served as defensive coordinator before taking over as safeties and special teams coach during the 2011-12 seasons. Busch also served as associate head coach for the Aggies in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, Utah State won a school-record 11 games and finished the year ranked No. 16 in the nation, and Busch was recognized as the Football Scoop National Defensive Backs Coach of the Year. The Aggies were No. 7 nationally in scoring defense (15.4 points per game) and No. 14 in total defense (322.1 yards per game).

UTAH: Busch coached the secondary at Utah from 2001 to 2003, spending a season under head coach Urban Meyer. Utah boasted one of the top defenses in the Mountain West Conference in 2003 to help the Utes to a 10-2 record and their first outright conference title since 1957. Utah’s 10 victories that season tied the then-school record. The secondary ranked second in the Mountain West and 27th nationally in pass efficiency defense, as Utah surrendered just nine passing touchdowns in 12 games. In 2001, Utah ranked 17th nationally in pass efficiency defense while earning an 8-4 overall record.

NEW MEXICO STATE: Before his three seasons at Utah, Busch spent four years at New Mexico State where he coached the defensive backs. 

NORTHERN ARIZONA: Busch’s first full-time coaching job was at Northern Arizona where he was the secondary coach in 1995 and 1996. Busch also served as the co-defensive coordinator in 1996 when he helped guide Northern Arizona to its first appearance in the Division I-AA (now FCS) playoffs.

NEBRASKA WESLEYAN: Busch began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Nebraska Wesleyan, his alma mater.

Playing Career (Nebraska Wesleyan)

Busch played wide receiver at Nebraska Wesleyan from 1985 to 1987.

Personal

Busch, a Pender, Neb. native, earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Nebraska Wesleyan in 1988. Busch added a master’s degree in 1990 from Nebraska-Kearney. He married the former Laura Bonta in April of 2019 and the couple has three children – Sydney, Olivia, and Gianna.

Coaching Career

2022: Nebraska (Interim Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator)
2021: Nebraska (Defensive Analyst)
2018-20: LSU (Safeties)
2017: Rutgers (Co-Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs)
2016: Rutgers (Defensive Backs)
2015: Ohio State (Defensive Quality Control)
2013-14: Wisconsin (Defensive Backs, Special Teams)
2011-12: Utah State (Special Teams Coordinator, Safeties)
2009-10: Utah State (Defensive Coordinator)
2005-07: Nebraska (Special Teams Coordinator, Safeties)
2004: Nebraska (Special Teams Coordinator, Outside Linebackers)
2001-03: Utah (Secondary)
1997-2000: New Mexico State (Defensive Backs)
1996: Northern Arizona (Co-Defensive Coordinator, Secondary)
1995: Northern Arizona (Secondary)
1994: Wisconsin (Graduate Assistant)
1990-93: Nebraska (Graduate Assistant, Defense)
1989: Nebraska Wesleyan (Graduate Assistant)