Bryan Applewhite

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Bryan Applewhite can add a new sticker to his well-traveled luggage.

The former Brighton High School and University of Northern Colorado football player is the new running backs coach at the University of Nebraska.

 “Bryan Applewhite has proven himself as an outstanding running backs coach during his two decades in college football,” said NU coach Scott Frost as published on the website Husker Online. “I know that our running back room will benefit from his knowledge and experience. Bryan is a great addition to our staff, and I am excited for him to join our other new offensive coaches.

"I could be more pleased with the additions to our coaching staff and look forward to working closely with all of them.”

Applewhite is Frost’s fifth hire. Before joining the Cornhuskers, Applewhite spent two seasons at Texas Christian University and four seasons at Colorado State University. In 2015, just as he was joining the Rams’ staff, he told the Brighton Blade there were advantages to working in so many places, both for him and his young family.

“My family and I have experienced many different traditions, cultures, and various ways of doing things which, I truly believe, have allowed us to grow as a family,” he said. “We will take all of those experiences with us wherever we go. This is the third time I have joined new staff in my career. It has been the same every time: Hit the ground running; evaluating the returning talent; deciding which areas need to be filled on the team; calling the current players on the team and introducing myself to them.”

There’s the homecoming side to the move, too.

“Football for me started on the Front Range,” Applewhite said. “A chance to coach in Colorado was a major factor for my wife, Rachelle (Pomona High School class of ’98) and me to come to CSU, and we are so very thankful for the opportunity (former) CSU Coach (Mike) Bobo has given us.”

In 2015, Applewhite told the Blade he started thinking about coaching when he started playing football for coach John Conklin at Overland Trail Middle School. That was in seventh grade.

“My dream was to become a head football coach. I can still remember how we called plays ... As I grow older and experience more things around the country, that dream remains consistent,” he said. “But my mission has changed. When I was young, it was about winning football games. As I have grown older, my focus has become more on making an impact of the lives of young men. 

“I have learned to find more reward in helping an 18-year-old boy become a man,” he added. “If I can make a positive impact on their lives, hopefully, they will do the same for someone else. If the cycle continues, society gets better.”