University Southern California Trojans
Mike Ekeler Named USC Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach
February 17, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—Mike Ekeler, a highly regarded coach who has over 23 years of experience at some of the winningest college football programs in history, has been named USC special teams coordinator / linebackers coach, Head Coach Lincoln Riley announced, today (Feb. 17).Â
"This is an exciting return to USC for Mike and his family," said Riley. "Mike's special teams and linebacker units are elite, and he brings 23 years of Power Four experience on staffs that have produced some of the nation's finest defenses and special teams. We're thrilled to welcome him back to Los Angeles as part of our program."Â
Ekeler is entering his 28th football season overall, including 23 years at the FBS level and 22 years at a Power Four school. He has coached in every power conference while serving on staffs at six of the 12 winningest programs in college football history (USC, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU).
The 2026 season will be Ekeler's tenth as a special team coordinator, and he has led some of the best special teams units in the nation.
Most recently, Ekeler served as Nebraska's special teams coordinator. In 2025, Nebraska's special teams were outstanding as the Cornhuskers blocked three field goals and two punts and did not allow any blocked punts or field goals. Additionally, Nebraska ranked 12th nationally in kick return defense and 13th in yards per kick return. The Huskers' 341 punt return yards bettered the total of the previous five seasons combined. Kick returner Kenneth Williams and punt returner Jacory Barney earned All-Conference honors for their work on special teams. Williams averaged nearly 33 yards per return on 12 kick returns last season and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown in Nebraska's win over Northwestern. He also had an 85-yard return on the road against Maryland. At the end of the regular season Barney ranked ninth nationally in yards per return at 12.2. His 270 punt returns yards were the most by a Husker since the 2014 season.
From 2021-24, Ekeler led one of the nation's premier and most efficient special teams units and coached the outside linebackers at Tennessee.  In his four years in Knoxville, the Vols won 37 games with a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2024.Â
Tennessee ranked either first or second in the SEC in punt return average in all four seasons under Ekeler. Over his four seasons, Tennessee's cumulative average of 13.9 yards per punt return led the nation, as did the Vols' percentage of punts downed inside the opponent's 10-yard line (19.4%). Over Ekeler's final two seasons, Tennessee ranked seventh in the nation in kickoff touchback percentage (77.5%). During Ekeler's tenure, the Vols blocked eight punts and gave up a total of 138 punt return yards. Individually, Tennessee produced the SEC punt return average champion in three of his four years. Standouts Velus Jones Jr., a First Team All-SEC selection and the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year (and a former Trojan), and Dee Williams, a Phil Steele Fourth Team All-American, were two of four Ekeler proteges who were starting punt returners in the NFL in 2024.Â
In 2021, Tennessee ranked in the top 20 nationally in punt return defense (fifth), kickoff return average (15th), punt return average (16th), blocked punts (17th ) and net punting (19th). Tennessee either led the SEC or ranked in the league's top three in punt return defense (first), punt return average (first), net punting (second) and kickoff return average (third). The 2021 season was the first time since 1997 that the Vols led the SEC in punt return average. Kick returner Jones tallied 900 combined return yards on the year to lead the SEC and was third nationally.Â
In 2022, the Vols won 11 games, six over ranked teams, en route to an Orange Bowl title against ACC champion Clemson. Tennessee averaged 16.6 yards per punt return and racked up 331 total punt return yards, which ranked fourth in the FBS and second in the SEC. The Vols led the SEC in yards per punt return allowed at 2.50, a mark that also ranked sixth in the FBS. Under Ekeler's tutelage, Tennessee was ninth in ESPN's special teams efficiency rankings in 2022 (68.6), representing the program's second-highest finish since the metric started in 2005.
In 2023, Ekeler's special teams unit ranked in the top 25 nationally in blocked kicks (third), blocked punts (third), punt return defense (sixth), punt return average (16th) and net punting (23rd). Williams shattered the modern school career record for punt return average at 15.4, topping the previous mark held by Burt Rechichar (1949-51). The Vols led the SEC in punt return average, blocked kicks and blocked punts.
In 2024, the Vols ranked ninth nationally in punt returns and led the SEC (15.70) and 20th in blocked punts.Â
Ekeler's influence carried into the kicking game in his four seasons at Tennessee. Graduate transfer kicker (and former Trojan) Chase McGrath left his mark on the program, shattering the school single-season record for PATs made in consecutive years, including 70 in 2022. McGrath finished 28-of-36 in field goals for a .778 average in his two seasons, which ranked second in Tennessee career history. His 118 points in 2022 were the most by a kicker in school history, and the third-most by any player, with no points bigger than his infamous 40-yard, game-winning field goal to beat Alabama in 2022. He was twice named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week during the 2022 season in victories over LSU and the Crimson Tide.
Graduate transfer kicker Charles Campbell was a perfect 49-of-49 on PATs in 2023, while redshirt freshman punter Jackson Ross was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team following his debut season.Â
Ekeler also coached an All-SEC First Team outside linebacker in each of his final three seasons in Knoxville. Notably, linebacker Byron Young logged 83 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and 22 QB hurries in his two seasons (2021-22), and he was named to the All-SEC First Team in 2022. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 77 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Ekeler served as the special teams coordinator at North Texas in 2020. The Mean Green ranked seventh nationally in blocked kicks and had individuals ranked in the top 35 nationally in punting and kickoff returns.
Ekeler was the special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Kansas in 2019. He coached punter Kyle Thompson who averaged 44.5 yards per punt with 17 punts going over 50 yards, including a long of 73. Thompson was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Freshman linebacker Gavin Potter was an honorable mention honoree for Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, and Stephon Robinson earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors as a kick returner by Phil Steele.
Prior to Kansas, Ekeler coached the linebackers at North Carolina for two seasons in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, linebacker Cole Holcomb led the ACC in tackles per game (9.5), ranked second in the league in solo stops (5.4) and was an All-ACC Second Team selection. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Â
In 2017, Ekeler tutored a veteran Tarheel linebacking corps that featured Holcomb along with Cayson Collins and Andre Smith. Collins, who was second on the team with 83 tackles, signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, while Smith was a 2018 NFL Draft seventh round selection by the Carolina Panthers.
Ekeler spent one season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Texas in 2016. His defense held opponents to 8.7 points per game fewer than the previous year. The Mean Green posted the 13th-best improvement nationally in scoring defense and led Conference USA in passing efficiency defense while ranking second in passing yards allowed and interceptions and fourth in defensive touchdowns.
Ekeler served as the defensive special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Georgia in 2014 and 2015. Georgia had six punt return touchdowns in Ekeler's two seasons after he inherited a unit that ranked 122nd nationally in punt returns (2.92). Ekeler elevated Georgia 98 spots to rank No. 24 in that category in his first season as the Bulldogs averaged 10.48 yards per return. In 2015, that increased to 13.13 yards per return, which ranked 17th in the FBS. Georgia also improved in kickoff return coverage under his watch, climbing 37 spots from No. 66 in the FBS in 2013 to No. 29 in 2014, only allowing 19.25 yards per return.
Defensively, Ekeler coached four NFL Draft picks, including a pair of first round selections in Roquan Smith and Leonard Floyd, at Georgia. In 2014, Georgia ranked 17th in the FBS in total defense (337.2) and was second in the SEC in passing defense (170.4). In 2015, the Bulldogs' defense ranked seventh in the nation in total defense, allowing only 305.8 yards per game.
Ekeler was a member of the USC coaching staff in 2013 as the Trojan linebackers coach. Ekeler tutored Hayes Pullard, who was named to the All-Pac 12 Second Team. That year Pullard notched 60 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks before being selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Ekeler was Indiana's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2011-12.Â
Before that, he spent three years (2008-10) as Nebraska's linebackers coach where he was involved with some of the nation's most successful defenses. In 2010, Nebraska was third nationally in pass efficiency defense, fifth in pass defense, ninth in scoring defense and 11th in total defense. In 2009, the Cornhuskers led the country in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense and were seventh in total defense and ninth in rushing defense. He coached NFL draft picks Lavonte David, a 2010 All-American First Teamer when he set the school single season tackle record, Phillip Dillard and Cody Glenn. David went on to become an All-Pro linebacker for Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay. Nebraska won the Big 12 North Division title each year he was on staff and played in the 2009 Gator Bowl and 2009 and 2010 Holiday Bowls.
Ekeler was at LSU for 3 seasons (2005-07), the first 2 years as a defensive graduate assistant and the last year as an intern. Each season, the Tigers were third nationally in total defense (the 242.8 average in 2006 was the school's fewest yards allowed in 30 years). LSU won the BCS championship in 2007 and also captured the 2007 Sugar Bowl and the 2005 Peach Bowl (as the SEC West champion). He worked with All-American First Teamers Glenn Dorsey, LaRon Landry, Kyle Williams and Claude Wroten.
He was a defensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma for two years (2003-04) as the Sooners played in the BCS championship game both seasons (they lost to USC in the 2005 game). In 2003, Oklahoma was second nationally in pass defense, third in both total defense and pass efficiency defense and fifth in scoring defense.
After spending time in private business as the owner of an Omaha-based sales company, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Skutt High in Omaha, Neb. for three years (1999-2001) and then at Manhattan (Kan.) High in 2002.
He played linebacker and was on special teams for four years (1991-94) at Kansas State as the Wildcats played in the 1993 Copper Bowl and 1994 Aloha Bowl squads. As a senior in 1994, he became the only Wildcat ever appointed captain specifically by longtime head coach Bill Snyder. He also earned National Special Teams Player of the Year in 1994 by George Michael Sports Machine, a popular national sports show at the time.
A Big 12 All-Academic selection, he earned his bachelor's degree in social science from Kansas State in 1995.
He was a member of the 1988 Nebraska Class B state championship team as a linebacker and wide receiver at Blair (Neb.) High.
Ekeler and his wife, Barbie, have a son, J.J., and daughters Cameryn, Abigail, and Bella. Abigail was a collegiate volleyball player at Chattanooga (2021) and Tennessee (2022-24), Cameryn was a collegiate rower at Kansas (2020-21) and Tennessee (2021-22), and Bella is a freshman women's volleyball player at Georgia Southern.Â
Â
Â
"This is an exciting return to USC for Mike and his family," said Riley. "Mike's special teams and linebacker units are elite, and he brings 23 years of Power Four experience on staffs that have produced some of the nation's finest defenses and special teams. We're thrilled to welcome him back to Los Angeles as part of our program."Â
Ekeler is entering his 28th football season overall, including 23 years at the FBS level and 22 years at a Power Four school. He has coached in every power conference while serving on staffs at six of the 12 winningest programs in college football history (USC, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU).
The 2026 season will be Ekeler's tenth as a special team coordinator, and he has led some of the best special teams units in the nation.
Most recently, Ekeler served as Nebraska's special teams coordinator. In 2025, Nebraska's special teams were outstanding as the Cornhuskers blocked three field goals and two punts and did not allow any blocked punts or field goals. Additionally, Nebraska ranked 12th nationally in kick return defense and 13th in yards per kick return. The Huskers' 341 punt return yards bettered the total of the previous five seasons combined. Kick returner Kenneth Williams and punt returner Jacory Barney earned All-Conference honors for their work on special teams. Williams averaged nearly 33 yards per return on 12 kick returns last season and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown in Nebraska's win over Northwestern. He also had an 85-yard return on the road against Maryland. At the end of the regular season Barney ranked ninth nationally in yards per return at 12.2. His 270 punt returns yards were the most by a Husker since the 2014 season.
From 2021-24, Ekeler led one of the nation's premier and most efficient special teams units and coached the outside linebackers at Tennessee.  In his four years in Knoxville, the Vols won 37 games with a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2024.Â
Tennessee ranked either first or second in the SEC in punt return average in all four seasons under Ekeler. Over his four seasons, Tennessee's cumulative average of 13.9 yards per punt return led the nation, as did the Vols' percentage of punts downed inside the opponent's 10-yard line (19.4%). Over Ekeler's final two seasons, Tennessee ranked seventh in the nation in kickoff touchback percentage (77.5%). During Ekeler's tenure, the Vols blocked eight punts and gave up a total of 138 punt return yards. Individually, Tennessee produced the SEC punt return average champion in three of his four years. Standouts Velus Jones Jr., a First Team All-SEC selection and the SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year (and a former Trojan), and Dee Williams, a Phil Steele Fourth Team All-American, were two of four Ekeler proteges who were starting punt returners in the NFL in 2024.Â
In 2021, Tennessee ranked in the top 20 nationally in punt return defense (fifth), kickoff return average (15th), punt return average (16th), blocked punts (17th ) and net punting (19th). Tennessee either led the SEC or ranked in the league's top three in punt return defense (first), punt return average (first), net punting (second) and kickoff return average (third). The 2021 season was the first time since 1997 that the Vols led the SEC in punt return average. Kick returner Jones tallied 900 combined return yards on the year to lead the SEC and was third nationally.Â
In 2022, the Vols won 11 games, six over ranked teams, en route to an Orange Bowl title against ACC champion Clemson. Tennessee averaged 16.6 yards per punt return and racked up 331 total punt return yards, which ranked fourth in the FBS and second in the SEC. The Vols led the SEC in yards per punt return allowed at 2.50, a mark that also ranked sixth in the FBS. Under Ekeler's tutelage, Tennessee was ninth in ESPN's special teams efficiency rankings in 2022 (68.6), representing the program's second-highest finish since the metric started in 2005.
In 2023, Ekeler's special teams unit ranked in the top 25 nationally in blocked kicks (third), blocked punts (third), punt return defense (sixth), punt return average (16th) and net punting (23rd). Williams shattered the modern school career record for punt return average at 15.4, topping the previous mark held by Burt Rechichar (1949-51). The Vols led the SEC in punt return average, blocked kicks and blocked punts.
In 2024, the Vols ranked ninth nationally in punt returns and led the SEC (15.70) and 20th in blocked punts.Â
Ekeler's influence carried into the kicking game in his four seasons at Tennessee. Graduate transfer kicker (and former Trojan) Chase McGrath left his mark on the program, shattering the school single-season record for PATs made in consecutive years, including 70 in 2022. McGrath finished 28-of-36 in field goals for a .778 average in his two seasons, which ranked second in Tennessee career history. His 118 points in 2022 were the most by a kicker in school history, and the third-most by any player, with no points bigger than his infamous 40-yard, game-winning field goal to beat Alabama in 2022. He was twice named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week during the 2022 season in victories over LSU and the Crimson Tide.
Graduate transfer kicker Charles Campbell was a perfect 49-of-49 on PATs in 2023, while redshirt freshman punter Jackson Ross was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team following his debut season.Â
Ekeler also coached an All-SEC First Team outside linebacker in each of his final three seasons in Knoxville. Notably, linebacker Byron Young logged 83 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and 22 QB hurries in his two seasons (2021-22), and he was named to the All-SEC First Team in 2022. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the No. 77 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Ekeler served as the special teams coordinator at North Texas in 2020. The Mean Green ranked seventh nationally in blocked kicks and had individuals ranked in the top 35 nationally in punting and kickoff returns.
Ekeler was the special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Kansas in 2019. He coached punter Kyle Thompson who averaged 44.5 yards per punt with 17 punts going over 50 yards, including a long of 73. Thompson was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Freshman linebacker Gavin Potter was an honorable mention honoree for Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, and Stephon Robinson earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors as a kick returner by Phil Steele.
Prior to Kansas, Ekeler coached the linebackers at North Carolina for two seasons in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, linebacker Cole Holcomb led the ACC in tackles per game (9.5), ranked second in the league in solo stops (5.4) and was an All-ACC Second Team selection. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Â
In 2017, Ekeler tutored a veteran Tarheel linebacking corps that featured Holcomb along with Cayson Collins and Andre Smith. Collins, who was second on the team with 83 tackles, signed a free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, while Smith was a 2018 NFL Draft seventh round selection by the Carolina Panthers.
Ekeler spent one season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Texas in 2016. His defense held opponents to 8.7 points per game fewer than the previous year. The Mean Green posted the 13th-best improvement nationally in scoring defense and led Conference USA in passing efficiency defense while ranking second in passing yards allowed and interceptions and fourth in defensive touchdowns.
Ekeler served as the defensive special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Georgia in 2014 and 2015. Georgia had six punt return touchdowns in Ekeler's two seasons after he inherited a unit that ranked 122nd nationally in punt returns (2.92). Ekeler elevated Georgia 98 spots to rank No. 24 in that category in his first season as the Bulldogs averaged 10.48 yards per return. In 2015, that increased to 13.13 yards per return, which ranked 17th in the FBS. Georgia also improved in kickoff return coverage under his watch, climbing 37 spots from No. 66 in the FBS in 2013 to No. 29 in 2014, only allowing 19.25 yards per return.
Defensively, Ekeler coached four NFL Draft picks, including a pair of first round selections in Roquan Smith and Leonard Floyd, at Georgia. In 2014, Georgia ranked 17th in the FBS in total defense (337.2) and was second in the SEC in passing defense (170.4). In 2015, the Bulldogs' defense ranked seventh in the nation in total defense, allowing only 305.8 yards per game.
Ekeler was a member of the USC coaching staff in 2013 as the Trojan linebackers coach. Ekeler tutored Hayes Pullard, who was named to the All-Pac 12 Second Team. That year Pullard notched 60 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks before being selected in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
Ekeler was Indiana's co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2011-12.Â
Before that, he spent three years (2008-10) as Nebraska's linebackers coach where he was involved with some of the nation's most successful defenses. In 2010, Nebraska was third nationally in pass efficiency defense, fifth in pass defense, ninth in scoring defense and 11th in total defense. In 2009, the Cornhuskers led the country in scoring defense and pass efficiency defense and were seventh in total defense and ninth in rushing defense. He coached NFL draft picks Lavonte David, a 2010 All-American First Teamer when he set the school single season tackle record, Phillip Dillard and Cody Glenn. David went on to become an All-Pro linebacker for Super Bowl LV champion Tampa Bay. Nebraska won the Big 12 North Division title each year he was on staff and played in the 2009 Gator Bowl and 2009 and 2010 Holiday Bowls.
Ekeler was at LSU for 3 seasons (2005-07), the first 2 years as a defensive graduate assistant and the last year as an intern. Each season, the Tigers were third nationally in total defense (the 242.8 average in 2006 was the school's fewest yards allowed in 30 years). LSU won the BCS championship in 2007 and also captured the 2007 Sugar Bowl and the 2005 Peach Bowl (as the SEC West champion). He worked with All-American First Teamers Glenn Dorsey, LaRon Landry, Kyle Williams and Claude Wroten.
He was a defensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma for two years (2003-04) as the Sooners played in the BCS championship game both seasons (they lost to USC in the 2005 game). In 2003, Oklahoma was second nationally in pass defense, third in both total defense and pass efficiency defense and fifth in scoring defense.
After spending time in private business as the owner of an Omaha-based sales company, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Skutt High in Omaha, Neb. for three years (1999-2001) and then at Manhattan (Kan.) High in 2002.
He played linebacker and was on special teams for four years (1991-94) at Kansas State as the Wildcats played in the 1993 Copper Bowl and 1994 Aloha Bowl squads. As a senior in 1994, he became the only Wildcat ever appointed captain specifically by longtime head coach Bill Snyder. He also earned National Special Teams Player of the Year in 1994 by George Michael Sports Machine, a popular national sports show at the time.
A Big 12 All-Academic selection, he earned his bachelor's degree in social science from Kansas State in 1995.
He was a member of the 1988 Nebraska Class B state championship team as a linebacker and wide receiver at Blair (Neb.) High.
Ekeler and his wife, Barbie, have a son, J.J., and daughters Cameryn, Abigail, and Bella. Abigail was a collegiate volleyball player at Chattanooga (2021) and Tennessee (2022-24), Cameryn was a collegiate rower at Kansas (2020-21) and Tennessee (2021-22), and Bella is a freshman women's volleyball player at Georgia Southern.Â
Â
Â
USC DC Gary Patterson | Introductory Press Conference 1.28.26
Wednesday, January 28
The Time Is Now
Monday, January 26
Every Sack of the 2025 USC Football Season
Tuesday, January 06
Every Touchdown of the 2025 USC Football Season
Thursday, January 01
