Mike Ekeler

Mike Ekeler is in his first season as Nebraska's special teams coordinator in 2025. Ekeler is in his second stint in Lincoln, as he coached the Husker linebackers from 2008 to 2010.

Ekeler is in his 27th season overall, including 23 years at the FBS level and 21 years at a Power Four school. He has coached in every power conference while serving on staffs at six of the 12 winningest programs in college football history (Oklahoma, Nebraska, Georgia, Tennessee, USC and LSU).

Ekeler is in his ninth season as a special teams coordinator. He led one of the nation's top special teams units in his four seasons at Tennessee before coming to Nebraska. In his four years at Tennessee, Ekeler oversaw a unit that led the nation in punt return yards and percentage of punts downed inside the opponent's 10-yard line in that four-year span.

NEBRASKA (2008-10)
During his first stint in Lincoln, Ekeler coached the NU linebackers from 2008 to 2010. In his three seasons, Ekeler helped the Huskers to at least a share of the Big 12 North title each season with two appearances in the Big 12 Championship Game. 

In 2008, Nebraska ranked second in the Big 12 in total defense. The Blackshirts were one of the nation's most improved units, allowing 126 fewer yards per game than the previous season.

In 2009, Nebraska led the nation in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense. The Huskers allowed only 10.4 points and 272.0 yards per game, ranking seventh nationally in total defense. 

In 2010, NU ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense and 11th in total defense. Lavonte David set the Nebraska season record with 152 tackles and earned All-America honors. In addition to David, Ekeler also coached future NFL linebackers Cody Glenn, Phillip Dillard, Will Compton and Eric Martin during his three seasons with the Blackshirt defense.

BEFORE NEBRASKA
TENNESSEE: Ekeler coordinated the special teams and coached the outside linebackers at Tennessee from 2021 to 2024. During Ekeler’s four seasons, the Vols won 37 games with a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2024. Tennessee ranked either first or second in the SEC in punt return average in all four seasons under Ekeler. Over his four seasons in Knoxville, Tennessee’s cumulative average of 13.9 yards per punt return led the nation, as did the Vols' percentage of punts downed inside the opponent's 10-yard line (19.4 percent).

Over Ekeler's final two seasons, Tennessee ranked seventh in the nation in kickoff touchback percentage (77.5 percent). During Ekeler’s tenure the Vols blocked eight punts and gave up a total of 138 punt return yards.

Individually, Tennessee produced the SEC punt return average champion in three of his four years, including 2021 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year Velus Jones Jr. Jones and Dee Williams were two of four Ekeler proteges who were starting punt returners in the NFL in 2024.

In 2021, Tennessee ranked in the top 20 nationally in blocked punts (2nd), punt return defense (5th), kickoff return average (15th), punt return average (16th) and net punting (19th). The following year, the Volunteers won 11 games with a unit that ranked ninth in ESPN's special teams efficiency rankings. In 2023, Ekeler's special teams unit ranked in the top 25 nationally in blocked kicks (3rd), blocked punts (4th), punt return defense (6th), punt return average (15th) and net punting (22nd). In his final season at Tennessee, the Vols ranked ninth nationally in punt returns and 20th in blocked punts.

Ekeler also coached a first-team All-SEC outside linebacker in each of his final three seasons in Knoxville.

NORTH TEXAS: Ekeler served as the special teams coordinator at North Texas in 2020. The Mean Green ranked seventh nationally in blocked kicks and had individuals ranked in the top 35 nationally in punting and kickoff returns.

Ekeler also spent one season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Texas in 2016. The Mean Green posted the 13th-best improvement nationally in scoring defense and led Conference USA in passing efficiency defense while ranking second in passing yards allowed  and interceptions and fourth in defensive touchdowns.

KANSAS: Ekeler was the special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Kansas in 2019. Punter Kyle Thompson averaged 44.5 yards per punt and was an honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection and Stephon Robinson was a third-team All-Big 12 pick as a kick returner.

NORTH CAROLINA: Ekeler coached the linebackers at North Carolina for two seasons in 2017 and 2018. He coached two NFL Draft picks with the Tar Heels, including Cole Holcomb who led the ACC in tackles per game (9.5) in 2018.

GEORGIA: Ekeler served as the defensive special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Georgia in 2014 and 2015. Georgia had six punt return touchdowns in Ekeler's two seasons after he inherited a unit that ranked 114th nationally in punt returns. The Bulldogs ranked in the top 25 nationally in punt returns in each of Ekeler's two seasons.

Defensively, Ekeler coached several NFL Draft picks, including a pair of first-round selections. His group helped the Bulldogs rank 17th nationally in total defense in 2014 and seventh in 2015.
USC: In 2013, Ekeler was the linebackers coach at USC. The Trojans ranked in the top 20 nationally in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense in Ekeler's lone season. Linebacker Hayes Pullard earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors before being selected in the 2015 NFL Draft.

INDIANA: Ekeler's first stint in the Big Ten came as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Indiana in 2011 and 2012. 

LSU: Prior to his first stint at Nebraska from 2008 to 2010, Ekeler spent three seasons on the LSU staff from 2005 to 2007. He served as a defensive intern in 2007 and a defensive graduate assistant in 2005 and 2006. The Tigers went 34-6 in Ekeler's three seasons, with a top-10 national ranking each season, which culminated with a national championship in 2007. LSU finished third nationally in total defense in each of Ekeler's three seasons on staff. 

OKLAHOMA: Ekeler spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma. The Sooners played for a national championship both seasons. OU ranked fifth nationally in total defense in 2003 and 11th in 2004.

HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT: Ekeler spent four seasons coaching high school football before joining the collegiate ranks. He served as an assistant coach at Manhattan High School in Kansas in 2002. Ekeler got his coaching start as a volunteer coach at Omaha Skutt High School from 1999 to 2001.

PLAYING CAREER (KANSAS STATE)
Ekeler was a linebacker and special teams stalwart for Coach Bill Snyder’s Kansas State teams from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, Snyder appointed Ekeler as a captain, the first self-appointed captain during Snyder's tenure as head coach. Ekeler helped Kansas State to back-to-back bowl games for the first time in program history in 1993 and 1994.

PERSONAL
A native of David City, Neb., Ekeler earned his bachelor's degree in social science from Kansas State in 1995. He and his wife, Barbie, have four children, J.J., Cameryn, Aabigail, Bella.

COACHING CAREER
2025: Nebraska (Special Teams Coordinator)
2021-24: Tennessee (Outside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator)
2020: North Texas (Special Teams Coordinator)
2019: Kansas (Inside Linebackers/Special Teams Coordinator)
2017-18: North Carolina (Linebackers)
2016: North Texas (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2014-15: Georgia (Inside Linebackers/Defensive Special Teams Coordinator)
2013: USC (Linebackers)
2011-12: Indiana (Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers)
2008-10: Nebraska (Linebackers)
2007: LSU (Defensive Intern)
2005-06: LSU (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2003-04: Oklahoma (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2002: Manhattan (Kan.) High School (Assistant Coach)
1999-2001: Omaha (Neb.) Skutt High School (Volunteer Coach)