A college football coach has revealed that a fan verbally abused his 13-year-old daughter following a recent defeat, prompting him to consider stepping away from coaching.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, 51, said the incident occurred after the Cornhuskers' loss to Washington on Saturday, October 31.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, November 2, Rhule told reporters that a man confronted his daughter at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, telling her "F-U and F your dad".
Nebraska Football Coach Threatens to Quit After Daughter Harassed by Fan
Rhule admitted that the incident left him questioning his future in coaching, insisting that his family's well-being would always come before football.
"I'm not going to keep coaching if it means my kids grow up screwed up. You know, I'm not going to [keep] coaching and see my daughter shook," Rhule said.
The 51-year-old revealed that he even discussed retirement with his daughters, explaining that he did not want them growing up in a hostile environment.
He told them he would retire "because I don't want you guys growing up in that environment."
Rhule also recalled how his wife, Julie, asked their children whether the attention and pressure surrounding their father's career had become "too much".
However, his daughter's response encouraged him to continue coaching.
"Dad, I love Nebraska, I love living in Nebraska, I love Nebraska football, I love the players. I'm tough. This is just teaching me life lessons. Please don't quit," Rhule said that his daughter wrote to him.
Matt Rhule Confirms He Will Continue Coaching Nebraska
Despite initially considering retirement, Rhule clarified that he is "not quitting" and remains committed to leading Nebraska.
He emphasized that he would continue to "fight for" the supporters who stand behind the program while refusing to tolerate personal attacks against his family.
"I'm gonna go fight for the fans that yeah, they get passionate, they boo, they throw a bottle, like, I get all of that, but the guy that attacked my 13 year old daughter, I'm not coaching for him," he added.
"I do not want to let the fans down. I don't want to let our players down, I don't want to let our coaches down, but I got to go to work. What I will say, though, is this: I'm also going to fight for my family."
Nebraska's defeat to Washington marked the Cornhuskers' third consecutive loss, leaving them with a 5-3 overall record and a 2-3 mark in Big Ten conference play.
Rhule joined Nebraska in November 2022, reportedly signing an eight-year contract worth $74 million.
He finished his debut season with a 5-7 record before guiding the Cornhuskers to consecutive 7-6 campaigns in 2024 and 2025.
The former Carolina Panthers head coach holds an overall record of 24-22 at Nebraska, including a 12-20 record in conference play.
