Former Nebraska AD's book reveals 2017 coaching search details on Chip Kelly, Scott Frost

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Former Nebraska AD's book reveals 2017 coaching search details on Chip Kelly, Scott Frost

Former Nebraska AD's book reveals 2017 coaching search details on Chip Kelly, Scott Frost

Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Thu, Feb 12, 2026 ·

3 min read

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You write a memoir to sell a memoir .

And to sell copies of a memoir, you need a few juicy, never-before-told stories tucked inside.

Like this one from former Nebraska athletic director Bill Moos: He wanted to hire Chip Kelly , not Scott Frost, in 2017. He interviewed Kelly. His bosses apparently didn't like that plan.

"I was met with blank stares and a total lack of excitement when I expressed that to my superiors ... I was not told I couldn't pursue (Kelly), but I certainly felt negative vibes," Moos reportedly wrote in his newly released memoir , "Crab Creek Chronicles: From the Wheat Fields to the Ball Fields and Beyond."

Instead of Kelly, Nebraska hired Frost, a beloved alumnus who had injected rocket fuel into Central Florida. Frost, though, brought an empty tank to Nebraska.

That's a polite way of saying: Frost stunk.

He never produced a winning season. Moos didn't do the firing. Instead, Moos' successor, Trev Alberts, canned Frost early in his fifth season .

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Best of bowl season: Mascots, trophies, celebrations, Gatorade baths

Defensive back Tony-Louis Nkuba #21 of the Arizona State Sun Devils celebrates by jumping into an inflatable bowl of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes after intercepting a pass against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of the Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl game at Sun Bowl Stadium on December 31, 2025 in El Paso, Texas

(Sam Wasson, Getty Images)

Tony the Tiger stands on the field after the coin toss before a football game between Duke and Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.
(Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times)

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) greats the Pop-Tarts mascots before the Pop-Tarts Bowl against the BYU Cougars at Camping World Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Pop-Tarts mascots celebrate with BYU Cougars after beating Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl mascots perform on the field before a game between the Michigan Wolverines and Texas Longhorns at Camping World Stadium.
(Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images)

Louisville Cardinals players celebrate after defeating the Toledo Rockets in the Boca Raton Bowl at Flagler CU Stadium.
(Jeff Romance, Jeff Romance-Imagn Images)

Washington Huskies head coach Jedd Fisch holds the LA Bowl championship belt presented by Rob Gronkowski after defeating the Boise State Broncos at SoFi Stadium.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

Musical artist/rapper Snoop Dogg holds the championship trophy after the Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Miami (OH) RedHawks 18-3 to win the 2025 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Casino Del Sol Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.
(Chris Coduto, Getty Images)

Actor Keegan-Michael Key receives the game coin prior to the 2025 Bush's Boca Raton Bowl of Beans game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Toledo Rockets at Flagler Credit Union Stadium on December 23, 2025 in Boca Raton, Florida.
(Leonardo Fernandez, Getty Images)

Comedians Theo Von, left, and Nate Bargatze watch from the sidelines during the first half of the ReliaQuest Bowl between Iowa Hawkeyes and Vanderbilt Commodores at Raymond James Stadium on December 31, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
(Mike Carlson, Getty Images)

Head coach Jeff Traylor of the UTSA Roadrunners is doused with water by Jamel Hardy #13 during the fourth quarter against the FIU Panthers in the 2025 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on December 26, 2025 in Dallas, Texas.
(Sam Hodde, Getty Images)

Army Black Knights head coach Jeff Monken gets splashed with Powerade after Army beat UConn 41-16 in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park.
(Danny Wild, Danny Wild-Imagn Images)

Interim head coach Drew Svoboda of the North Texas Mean Green is doused after his team defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 49-47 in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
(Sam Wasson, Getty Images)

Northwestern Wildcats players dump Gatorade on head coach David Braun of the Northwestern Wildcats after defeating the Central Michigan Chippewas in the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field on December 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Getty Images)

Head coach John Hauser of the Ohio Bobcats is doused with water after winning the game against the UNLV Rebels at the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl at Ford Center on December 23, 2025 in Frisco, Texas.
(Tim Heitman, Getty Images)

Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott is doused with Gatorade after winning the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium Saturday December 27, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. Virginia defeated Missouri 13-7.
(Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union)

Fresno State Bulldogs head coach Matt Entz is doused with gatorade after defeating the Miami (OH) RedHawks during the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Casino Del Sol Stadium.
(Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Head coach Clay Helton of the Georgia Southern Eagles receives a Powerade dunk after winning the JLab Birmingham Bowl by beating the Appalachian State Mountaineers 29-10 at Protective Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama.
(Jason Clark, Getty Images)

Interim Head Coach Terry M. Smith of the Penn State Nittany Lions lifts the championship trophy following the game against the Clemson Tigers during the 2025 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on December 27, 2025 in New York City.
(Evan Bernstein, Getty Images)

BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) and head coach Kalani Sitake are presented a large pop-tart to eat after they beat the against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Camping World Stadium.
(Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

Ken Seals #9 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates with teammates after defeating the USC Trojans in the game at the Alamodome on December 30, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
(Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images)

Head coach Willie Fritz of the Houston Cougars celebrates with the Texas Bowl Trophy after defeating the Louisiana State Tigers during the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
(Tim Warner, Getty Images)

Conner Weigman #1 of the Houston Cougars is named Texas Bowl MVP during the Kinder's Texas Bowl against the Louisiana State Tigers at NRG Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
(Tim Warner, Getty Images)

Maverick McIvor #7 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers reacts as he recieves the MVP trophy after his team defeated the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles to win the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome on December 23, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)

Old Dominion Monarchs hoist the Cure Bowl trophy after beating the South Florida Bulls at Camping World Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Jacksonville State Gamecocks running back Khristian Lando (22) hoists the trophy as Troy Trojans take on Jacksonville State Gamecocks during the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. Jacksonville State Gamecocks defeated Troy Trojans 17-13.
(Jake Crandall/ Advertiser)

Interim head coach Drew Svoboda of the North Texas Mean Green raises the championship trophy after his team defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 49-47 in the Isleta New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium on December 27, 2025 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
(Sam Wasson, Getty Images)

Micah Alejado #12 of the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors holds up the Hawai'i Bowl Championship trophy after winning the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl over the California Golden Bears at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on December 24, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
(Darryl Oumi, Getty Images)

NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren receives the trophy after beating Memphis Tigers in the Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Like Bill Moos, Florida Gators also wanted Chip Kelly

Interestingly, Florida's 2017 coaching search featured two of the same candidates as Nebraska's. Kelly was the top target, until he pulled out and took the UCLA job instead.

"I was really hoping Chip would be interested," Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin told Sports Illustrated in 2021 .

What about Frost? Well, he didn't interview well for the Florida job, school officials later told Sports Illustrated for that story about its 2017 coaching search. That's a theme with Frost. Moos, too, was unimpressed with Frost's interview. Frost, according to Moos , showed up to the interview in sweats and unshaven, and he brought a sidekick to the interview. He got the Nebraska job anyway.

With Kelly off the board for Florida and Frost unimpressive in his Gators interview, Stricklin pivoted his sights to Dan Mullen, who had worked for him at Mississippi State.

Tennessee also wanted Mullen . Volunteers athletic director John Currie made him a top target after firing Butch Jones. Currie and Mullen exchanged text messages on the final Saturday of the 2017 regular season. Currie also messaged Mullen's agent to have him get deal terms to Mullen.

If Mullen ever saw Tennessee's deal, well, he never signed it.

Kelly picked UCLA.

Mullen picked Florida.

Tennessee briefly picked Greg Schiano. Fans revolted, and Currie got himself fired. The search jumped the rails, and they wound up hiring Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.

Nebraska picked Frost.

It's a microcosm of the domino effect of coaching searches. You can think you have your man, until another suitor swoops in and steals him.

Or, you can think you have your man, until your bosses don't want your man. As was evidently the case at Nebraska.

Moos sang a different tune at Frost's introductory news conference, hailing him "the premier young coach in America."

"I believe he was everybody's first choice," Moos said then, "and I got the pick of the litter."

You don't sell memoirs by repeating what you said at news conferences, though.

Would Chip Kelly have taken Nebraska job over UCLA?

Pruitt, Mullen and Frost each were later fired.

Kelly coached UCLA for six seasons, the final three of them good ones. He left to become Ohio State's offensive coordinator. He won a national championship with the 2024 Buckeyes. After a failed fling in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders , he's now Northwestern's offensive coordinator.

Kelly picked UCLA over Florida, so even if Moos believed he had the administration's support, could he have really secured Kelly for Nebraska?

We'll have to wait until Kelly writes his memoir to find out.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer .

[ This column first published in our SEC Unfiltered newsletter , emailed free to your inbox. Want more commentary like this? Sign up here for our newsletter on SEC sports. ]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chip Kelly to Nebraska? Former AD wanted him over Scott Frost in 2017

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