Steven Sipple: In discussing Tony White’s potential as head coach, Matt Rhule essentially tells us what he expects from himself

Yes, Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White is ready to become a head coach, Matt Rhule says.

White, 44, has helped push the Huskers into the nation’s top 20 in scoring defense and total defense.

However, White’s acumen as a coordinator is only part of why Rhule thinks White is prepared to lead an entire program. As Rhule on Monday discussed the jump from coordinator to head coach, something interesting happened as a byproduct.

Rhule, 48, told us in a roundabout way what he expects from himself as a head coach.

It all made sense.

Stay with me here.

In addressing subjects like this one, Rhule often takes you on a journey of sorts.

“I’ll say this: Being a coordinator and being a head coach … it’s similar,” said the first-year Nebraska head coach. “But it’s about like the difference between being a cardiologist and an oncologist. If they diagnose you with cancer, you’re not going to go see the cardiologist.”

A cardiologist specializes in the study or treatment of heart diseases and heart abnormalities.

An oncologist is qualified to treat cancer and provide medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer.

“But both went to medical school, both did all the training,” said Rhule, who then chuckled as he pondered the differences between being a coordinator and head coach.

Bottom line, being a high-level coordinator doesn’t always equate into head-coaching success, as Nebraska fans know all too well.

Five things we learned from Nebraska’s Iowa week press conference

Rhule understands what it takes to make a jump

By the way, Rhule spent four seasons as Temple’s offensive coordinator (2008 to 2011) before becoming the school’s head coach in 2013.

He’s qualified to address this subject because he’s lived it.

“The things that come across my desk every day (as a head coach), very few of them have to do with the weakside iso,” he said. “They have to do with players and now the portal.”

Let’s just say a head coach’s job can be … diverse in nature.

If a player is struggling in school, a head coach may have to deal with it.

If a player is arrested, a head coach will be apprised of the situation and must react accordingly.

If there’s a dignitary on campus, a head coach may have to take time to shake a hand and make small talk.

If there’s an emergency Zoom meeting involving head coaches and the conference commissioner, the head coach better be ready for it.

If a head-hunter firm calls a head coach asking about one of his assistants for a head-coaching vacancy, the head coach had better take the call and make a good pitch, as Rhule did recently for White.

I once heard Rick Neuheisel — a former head coach for Colorado, Washington, and UCLA — say that he tried to get all of his game-planning duties done before 8 a.m. because that’s essentially when his head-coaching duties took over the day.

Rhule tells of importance of an ‘imbedded philosophy’

Rhule can relate.

“I also think you have to have this knowledge of football that allows you to always paint a picture for the guys (players and staff) of how we want to win,” he said. “You have to have a philosophy that’s imbedded and doesn’t sway when the results aren’t there.”

Nebraska takes a 5-6 record (3-5 Big Ten) into Friday’s regular-season finale against Iowa (9-2, 6-2) in Lincoln.

“You have to be a person who cares about people and has relationships — genuine relationships — not just relationships with people who can do something for you,” Rhule continued. “I see that from Tony, and I see him just being able to stay even-keel — the same guy every day.

“I hope he gets an opportunity. We don’t have enough coaches of diverse backgrounds. But as much as anything, I think he’s just really smart.”

And let’s be real, White benefits from working under Rhule, who pours his energy into virtually every aspect of his program. You don’t always see that from head coaches, especially from the “scheme magicians” who are buried in a play sheet on game days.

If I were an athletic director — heaven forbid — I would favor head coaches who don’t call plays on game days. I think those who don’t call plays have a better overall feel for their team.

Yes, I know, Tom Osborne called plays. There are other accomplished head coaches who do it.

I’m just saying to whom I’d lean.

White pays close attention to how Rhule leads

White clearly pays close attention to how Rhule goes about leading Nebraska’s program. Last week, White referred to how well Rhule fosters the importance of his team embracing the notion of “us” and of seeing eye-to-eye.

Rhule works to develop such a culture year-round, White said.

“It’s showing up in the adverse times, right?” White said. “If you don’t have those relationships, and if you haven’t been through the fire with those guys in the offseason, then when the adversity hits, it’s me versus you instead of ‘us’ and ‘us’ figuring things out.

“Those are the times when you get a chance to see the words come to action — and that goes back to the offseason and building those relationships so that way when things do happen, it’s, ‘OK, let’s figure it out.’”

So, is White indeed ready to lead a major-college program? I’m (obviously) not fully qualified to make that call in part because I’m not around Nebraska’s program every day. I don’t see his daily interactions with players. I don’t see how he conducts meetings. I don’t see how well he handles days that aren’t going so well for him personally. I don’t have a great handle on his recruiting acumen.

I do know he can coach up a defense. I do know he has a commanding presence. I do know he communicates extremely well. He gives off the impression of being ready for the jump to head man, and for some athletic directors, a good impression is almost enough.

If I were an athletic director, I would listen closely to what Rhule has to say about White. Rhule thinks deeply about leadership — he studies it — and thinks deeply about what a head coach should mean to his players and a program in general.

“Tony White should be a head coach. He’s excellent,” Rhule recently told a search firm.

In other words, White apparently is getting one hell of a meaningful recommendation from at least one colleague.

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The post Steven Sipple: In discussing Tony White’s potential as head coach, Matt Rhule essentially tells us what he expects from himself appeared first on On3.