Matt Rhule knows a great coach when he sees one. After all, his own career has been shaped by some of the best minds in the game. But some mentors leave a deeper mark than others. Former Temple HC Al Golden might be gone from Notre Dame, but he was still recognized for the work he did with the program over the past season—his third and final as defensive coordinator. So, when one of his former bosses was honored on one of the biggest stages for assistant coaches, Nebraska Cornhuskers’ HC made sure to be there for his former “teacher” during this special moment.

And this year, the winner of the Broyles Award, given annually to the best assistant coach in college football, is…Al Golden!

Golden is now headed to the NFL to take over as the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive play-caller. But before he left South Bend, he delivered one of the most dominant defensive seasons in the nation. Under his watch, Notre Dame led the FBS in turnovers gained (33), pass efficiency defense (104.4), and defensive touchdowns (6), while ranking in the top five in multiple other categories. His masterclass comes as no surprise to those who have seen Golden operate before—including Matt Rhule.

In a video posted by Broyles Award on Instagram, Rhule praised his Temple Owls boss. The Huskers’ HC was Al’s assistant from 2006-2011. And for Rhule, Golden isn’t just another successful coach—he’s the man who gave him his first real shot. “Well, this is something I’ve been looking forward to,” Rhule said at the Broyles Award ceremony. “Al Golden winning, who I was an assistant coach for at Temple, so it has obviously strong personal ties to me.” Back in the mid-2000s, Temple football wasn’t just struggling; it was a program in disarray. Golden took over a team that had been cast off from the Big East, a program many considered beyond saving.

That didn’t stop Matt Rhule from packing up his life, driving 11 hours with his wife Julie, two dogs, and a cat, and showing up in North Philadelphia just for the chance to introduce himself. “I pulled into North Philadelphia, introduced myself to him, said, ‘Hey, I’d love to work for you someday.’ He didn’t have a job. About a month later, he called me.” That call changed Rhule’s career.

Golden didn’t just give Rhule a job; he gave him opportunities. “During my time with him, I was the D-line coach, became the recruiting coordinator, actually became the quarterback coach, then became his offensive coordinator,” Rhule recalled. Few young assistants get that kind of rapid ascent, but Golden saw something in the future Huskers HC.

More than just titles, Golden taught him how to build, how to work, and how to sustain a program, even in the toughest environments. “He taught me a lot. He taught me how to work. He certainly worked. And that’s something I try to carry with me.” Those lessons carried Rhule from Temple to Baylor to the NFL and now back to Nebraska, where he’s entering a pivotal third year trying to reestablish the Cornhuskers as a national contender.

But on this night, it wasn’t about Nebraska or even about Rhule. It was about paying respect to the man who helped set his coaching journey in motion. “To be here tonight to support high school winners is something that I’m passionate about. So it’s been marked on my calendar. Julie and I were happy to get here. It’s beautiful.”

Matt Rhule misses the “assistant” grind

At the Broyles Award Ceremony on Thursday night, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule got a little reflective. With his former Temple boss taking home the prestigious award, Rhule admitted that he sometimes misses the days of being an assistant coach.

“Assistant coaches are the ones who directly impact players’ lives,” Rhule said.”There’s nothing more powerful than the gift of belief. And whatever your skill level is, be an assistant coach who shows you how to do it and tells you to do it and then picks you up when you’re down. Those are the guys who change young men’s lives. Sometimes as a head coach, I miss my days as an assistant coach. But I’ve been blessed in my life to have so many great assistants who poured into me as a player and now as a head coach.” While being a head coach comes with its own rewards, Rhule made it clear that he still holds a deep appreciation for the grind of being in the trenches as an assistant.

Sadly, he is under criticism because of the disappointing news for Nebraska fans—he “highly doubts” the Huskers will have a traditional spring game. The reason? Tampering concerns. With a nationally televised scrimmage, Rhule worries other programs could start scouting and poaching players. From nostalgic coaching memories to tampering worries, it’s all in a day’s work for Matt Rhule.