Scott Frost will return for his fifth season as Nebraska’s football coach in 2022, ending speculation that he might be fired amid his fourth consecutive losing season.
Athletic director Trev Alberts made the announcement Monday that Frost, 46, will be back with a restructured contract agreed to by the coach.
“In my four months at Nebraska, I have closely observed our football team, and had several productive discussions with Coach Frost,” Alberts said in a statement. “Scott has laid out a clear plan and vision for the future of Nebraska Football and has agreed to a restructured contract.
“I am excited to continue to work together with Scott. We share a love of Nebraska and this football program and want nothing more than Nebraska Football to again compete for championships.”
Frost, a former quarterback at Nebraska who returned to his alma mater after leading UCF to a 13-0 season in 2017, is 15-27 overall and 10-23 in the Big Ten with the Cornhuskers, who are 3-7 overall and 1-6 in the conference this season after a 26-17 loss to fifth-ranked Ohio State on Saturday.
“I appreciate the confidence Trev Alberts has shown in me to continue to lead this program,” Frost said Monday. “I love this state, this football program and am honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve as the head coach at my alma mater.
“Our immediate focus is on the two games ahead against Wisconsin and Iowa, and the opportunity in front of us to build momentum heading into the offseason and 2022. I understand we have not won at a high enough level, but I am confident our football program will continue to take steps forward.”
The Cornhuskers have played four teams in the most recent Top 10 poll closely — Oklahoma, Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State — but have been beaten by Illinois, Minnesota and Purdue and have an 0-6 record in games decided by one score.
Frost signed a seven-year, $35 million contract when he arrived at Nebraska in December 2017. He was given a two-year extension in 2019 that pushed the contract through 2026.
The extension was announced before Nebraska’s game against Wisconsin on Nov. 16, 2019. Frost was 7-13 entering that game. Starting with a loss to the Badgers that day, Nebraska has gone 8-14 since.
According to the Lincoln Journal Star, buying out Frost and his coaching staff after this season would have cost Nebraska about $24.5 million.
