The Nebraska football coaching staff for Year 3 of the Matt Rhule regime is now fully set: The Huskers, on Tuesday, announced a two-year contract extension for running backs coach EJ Barthel, extending him through the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Barthel's new contract runs through Jan. 31, 2027 and will pay him $450,000 annually, effective Feb. 1, 2025. The new deal gives Barthel a pay increase of more than $150,000 per year – up from his previous annual salary of $293,000.

Sources tell Inside Nebraska that Penn State and Texas were both interested in pursuing Barthel as their next running backs coach prior to Barthel's extension with the Huskers. Penn State, however, has hired Stan Drayton as its RB coach, with the news becoming official last week.

Texas' search remains ongoing. But instead of pursuing the job with the Longhorns – or any other open RB coaching positions – Barthel will now enter his third season at Nebraska and his sixth season with Rhule. He previously worked under Rhule for one season at Temple (2016) as the Owls' coordinator of on-campus recruiting and for two seasons with the Carolina Panthers (2020-21) as a coaching assistant working with the running backs, offensive line and in the personnel department.

Barthel's extension has finalized Rhule's 2025 coaching staff, putting a stamp on a series of new hires and new contracts this offseason.

Scroll below for more information on the full rundown of Nebraska's new hires and new coaching staff contracts.