Mickey Joseph, who served as interim head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers for nine games this season, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of strangulation and third degree domestic assault, the Lincoln Police Department said.
The Lincoln Police Department said officers were dispatched to a residence on a domestic disturbance call. After an investigation, officers arrested Joseph, 54, at a separate location and booked him into the Lancaster County Jail.
Joseph was placed on administrative leave by Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts on Wednesday.
Joseph, a former Nebraska quarterback, was named interim coach after the Cornhuskers fired Scott Frost on Sept. 11. Nebraska went 3-6 under Joseph before hiring former Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule to an eight-year deal as the program’s new head coach on Saturday.
At Rhule’s introductory news conference Monday, he credited Joseph and Nebraska’s staff for how they finished the season. Joseph’s amended contract after he became interim head coach stated that he would return to his role as wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator and associate head coach if someone else was named the team’s permanent coach. The contract stated Joseph would be owed his original buyout if not retained without cause.
“Mickey did a fantastic job,” Rhule said Monday. “I’ve known Coach Joseph for a while before that, not personally but professionally. He’s an excellent recruiter and players love him, so I’m anxious to have a chance to visit with him and the rest of the staff.”
Before Nebraska, Joseph spent five years on LSU’s staff. He spent two seasons as head coach at Langston University, an NAIA program.