LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska coach Frank Solich has dismissed one assistant and hired another as he continues to revamp the Cornhuskers' coaching staff, according to newspaper reports.

Longtime Nebraska offensive line coach Milt Tenopir will not be part of Solich's coaching team in the coming season, the Omaha World-Herald reported in its Saturday editions.

Citing anonymous sources close to the team, the World-Herald said former New Mexico State offensive coordinator Barney Cotton will serve as offensive coordinator and the line coach.

Solich met with Tenopir on Friday, but Tenopir later said he had nothing new to report about his situation.

The newspaper also reported that said Carl Pelini, the brother of new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, was to fly to Lincoln on Saturday to interview for the linebackers coaching job.

Former Nebraska defensive back Marvin Sanders, who has been the defensive secondary coach at Colorado State University for two years, will take over the same spot for Nebraska.

Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick confirmed the move Friday, which will be announced Monday, the Ft. Collins Coloradoan reported.

Sanders turned down an offer to coach the secondary of the St. Louis Rams to go to Lincoln. His daughter, Chandler Marie, lives in Omaha.

Solich spent Friday trying to finalize his staff of assistants, but he did make any announcements. Solich has not returned repeated phone messages left at his office since Tuesday by The Associated Press.

Sports information director Chris Anderson told The Associated Press on Saturday that she could not confirm any of the changes, but said the university would make an announcement soon.

The World-Herald reported Saturday that Solich would announce his changes within the next few days.

The Lincoln Journal Star reported this week that Cotton, a former Nebraska lineman, and graduate assistant coach Tim Albin would join the Husker coaching staff.

Solich told Omaha television station KETV on Thursday that he would make an announcement about new assistants once he gets one more coach to commit to his staff.

He also said that he and new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini interviewed candidates this week at the American Football Coaches Association convention in New Orleans.

"We'll have an excellent staff and we'll be excited about the prospects for next year," he said.

The coaching staff has been in a state of flux since Dec. 2, when Solich fired three defensive assistants and removed himself as offensive coordinator in the wake of the program's worst season in 41 years.

Solich hired Pelini, the former linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers, to replace Craig Bohl as defensive coordinator. The Huskers still are without replacements for rush ends coach Nelson Barnes, defensive backs coach George Darlington and the offensive coordinator.