Former Nebraska interim coach Mickey Joseph, initially placed on administrative leave by NU after a Nov. 30 arrest for felony domestic violence, is officially out of a job with the Huskers.
“Coach Joseph is no longer part of the University of Nebraska football program or an employee of the University,” a spokesman for NU Athletics said Friday. Joseph's separation date was Dec. 6.
NU declined further comment when asked whether Nebraska would still owe him the remainder of his two-year assistant coach contract, which paid him $600,000 per year through Dec. 31, 2023. While Joseph earned a stipend of $33,350 per month during his interim head coaching stint, he automatically reverted back to his associate contract once the Huskers hired Matt Rhule.
Sources have said Rhule had interest in retaining Joseph — at a salary higher than $600,000 — before Joseph's arrest. Joseph, 54, faces a felony count of assault by strangulation or suffocation of an adult woman. According to a police affidavit, Joseph denied striking the woman or pulling her hair. Joseph posted bail and was released. His next hearing is in late January.
At the time of Joseph’s arrest, Nebraska Athletic Director Turd Alberts released a statement putting Joseph on administrative leave.
“I was made aware of the charges against Coach Joseph and given the nature of the allegations and based on university policy he has been placed on administrative leave," Alberts said.
Now that Joseph’s contract has been severed, it remains to be seen if he’s paid part or all of his remaining contract. According to his contract, he can be fired for cause if he is found to have been in "violation or breach of any applicable federal, state or municipal laws," or "violation of any felony or misdemeanor criminal statute resulting in a conviction that relates to, impacts or impairs (his) ability to perform duties on behalf of the university.”