NU names Parrella, Devaney to football staff

After a search that lasted nearly three weeks, Nebraska head coach Mike Riley has found his new defensive line coach in John Parrella.

The hire was officially announced via press release from Riley on Wednesday morning. Parrella replaces Hank Hughes, who was let go on Feb. 5 after just one season on Riley’s staff.

“We are proud to bring John Parrella home to Nebraska as our defensive line coach," Riley said in the statement. "John will bring great energy and expertise to our defensive staff. He knows what it means to wear a Blackshirt and has the personality to connect with his players and prospective student-athletes."

With deep-rooted connections to NU, the Husker football program and Riley himself, Parrella brings coaching experience from the high school, junior college and Division II levels.

The Grand Island, Neb., native was a two-time all-state defensive lineman at Grand Island Central Catholic and eventually transferred to Nebraska after originally accepting a scholarship from Colorado, which was pulled just before the start of his freshman season.

Once in Lincoln, Parrella went on to be an first-team All-Big Eight and second-team All-American selection for the Huskers, and in 2001 he was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame and later was voted one of the 100 Greatest Athletes in Nebraska Cornhusker history.

Parrella was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft, and in 1994 was traded to the San Diego Chargers, where he played the next eight seasons before finishing his career with the Oakland Raiders. When he finally retired in 2004, he had recorded 405 tackles and 26.5 sacks in his career to along with playing in three Super Bowls.

During his time in San Diego, Parrella played three seasons under Riley, who was head coach of the Chargers from 1999-2001. NU defensive coordinator Mark Banker was also the Chargers' DC during that span.

Parrella was also a teammate at Nebraska with Kenny Wilhite, who was recently promoted to the Huskers' director of high school relations.

“I am fired up to be a part of the Nebraska program and to have the opportunity to work with this coaching staff,” Parrella said. “I have nothing but the greatest respect for Coach Riley and the University of Nebraska.”

Following his playing career, Parrella took over as the head coach of the first-ever varsity football program at Valley Christian (Calif.) High School, where he led the Vikings to four straight North Coast Section Division IV playoff berths.

Parrella then accepted an assistant coach position at Chabot (Calif.) Junior College, where he helped the team win the Golden Gate Conference championship and then the Top of the State Bowl in 2013.

In 2014, Parrella took over as the defensive line coach at Northern Michigan, where he coached the past two seasons.

Though his career at Nebraska ended following the 1992 season, Parrella finally earned his bachelor’s degree in Child, Youth and Family Studies from NU in 2012. He and his wife, Leigh, have four sons: Zach (21), Cal (19), Alex (16), and Jake (12); and a daughter, Grace (4).

Nebraska has also hired Billy Devaney as Executive Director of Player Personnel and Special Assistant to the Head Coach.

Devaney has more than three decades of experience in the National Football League in administrative and player personnel roles. He served as the general manager of the St. Louis Rams from 2008 to 2011, and was most recently a pro personnel scout for the Atlanta Falcons.

“Billy Devaney is one of the most respected executives in the National Football League," Riley said. "His wide-ranging experience on the administrative side of a football organization will have many benefits on our program here at Nebraska.”

In his role with the Huskers, Devaney will work with Riley to develop, implement and oversee a comprehensive football player personnel program. Devaney will head up the process of identifying prospective student-athletes, allocation of scholarship offers and assist the head coach with roster management. Devaney will directly oversee the Huskers’ player personnel and recruiting staffs.

“I spent a weekend in Lincoln last fall in my scouting role for the Falcons,” Devaney said. “The facilities and whole atmosphere was truly special, so the opportunity to work with Mike and his staff at a place like Nebraska was a no-brainer. I have been fortunate in the NFL to be a part of 19 playoff games, four championships and three Super Bowls, but this opportunity at Nebraska excites me as much as anything I have been a part of in my football career.”

Devaney has worked in the Falcons organization in 2014 and 2015. He served as the general manager of the St. Louis Rams from 2008 to 2011, and was also the Rams’ executive vice president of player personnel in 2008.

Devaney got his start in professional football as a scout with the Washington Redskins organization from 1979 to 1990. He got his start in the front office as the director of pro personnel for the San Diego Chargers from 1990 to 2000.

During his stint with the Chargers, the team appeared in Super Bowl XXIX following the 1994 season. Devaney was also in the Chargers’ front office when the organization hired Riley as head coach before the 1999 season.

Devaney spent time inthe San Francisco 49ers (2001-03) and Atlanta Falcons (2006-07) front offices before taking over in St. Louis in 2008. He also worked as an NFL analyst for ESPN during the 2013 season and for CBS Sports in 2004 and 2005.