The Iowa State Cyclones entered the 2024 season after one of the more pleasantly surprising 7-6 records you’ll ever see. Could this be the year that Matt Campbell reminds the college football world why he used to be the hottest candidate in the sport?
Iowa State Cyclones Coaching Staff 2024
Head Coach, Matt Campbell
Iowa State has never been a historically successful program. That is until Campbell arrived from Toledo after the 2015 season. Since then, he and his staff have taken the Cyclones to new heights in the Big 12.
Campbell has been a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year during his tenure and has made a bowl game in six out of the last seven seasons with Iowa State. While Campbell isn’t as hot a name in recent coaching cycles, he’s still widely considered one of the best coaches among historically underwhelming Power Four programs.
Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends, Taylor Mouser
Taylor Mouser has steadily risen through Iowa State’s ranks since starting as a graduate assistant in 2015. He worked in the scouting department and as an offensive analyst before moving to his on-field role as tight ends coach in 2019.
Mouser added offensive coordinator duties this season after five strong years as the tight ends coach, three of which included Charlie Kolar earning All-American honors. There won’t be a huge shift in offensive philosophy, but he’s in charge now.
Defensive Coordinator, Jon Heacock
Jon Heacock’s unique scheme has allowed the Cyclones to overcome talent deficiencies, and he’s created a sustainable defensive juggernaut in Ames.
Heacock enters his ninth season with the Cyclones after spending time at Youngstown State, Indiana, Kent State, and Toledo. His unique defensive scheme has recently been copied by some of college football’s elite teams, and he’s developed several middling recruits into high draft picks.
Wide Receivers/Passing Game Coordinator, Noah Pauley
Now in his second year with the Cyclones, Noah Pauley worked at North Dakota State where he coached current Packers wide receiver Christian Watson. Pauley has spent his entire coaching career in the Midwest, serving at Minnesota Duluth from 2011 to 2018 prior to moving to NDSU. This year, he adds a passing game coordinator title.
Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator, Ryan Clanton
Campbell once again dipped into the talent-rich midwest FCS ranks to hire an assistant, bringing in Ryan Clanton from Northern Iowa two years ago to coach the offensive line.
Clanton added a run game coordinator title in 2024 and has coached at Ventura College in California, in addition to his time as offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at UNI.
Running Backs/Assistant Head Coach, Tyler Roehl
Campbell loves to go after high-level FCS coaches, probably because they excel at doing less with more.
Tyler Roehl is new to Iowa State’s staff after spending 2014-2023 at North Dakota State. Roehl started by coaching tight ends and fullbacks before being promoted to offensive coordinator, where he’s served for the last five years.
Quarterbacks, Jake Waters
Jake Waters might be new to the on-field coaching staff, but he’s plenty familiar with Iowa State. Last season, he worked closely with QB Rocco Becht as a senior quality control analyst, focusing on the quarterbacks. Outside of a three-year stint at UTEP, the former All-Big 12 quarterback at Kansas State has spent his entire coaching career in the state of Iowa.
Defensive Line, Eli Rasheed
A long-time high school coach, Eli Rasheed has been with Campbell for 17 years, dating back to the HC’s time as a Toledo assistant. Rasheed made the move with Campbell to Iowa State in 2016 and has held the same defensive line coaching position since. He’s coached numerous All-Big 12 selections and draft picks.
Linebackers Coach, Colby Kratch
After losing his long-time linebackers coach — dating back to his days at Toledo — Campbell turned to a familiar face to find his replacement. He hired Colby Kratch back after spending the 2023 season at North Texas. Prior to coaching the Mean Green, Kratch was a five-year player personnel staffer with the Cyclones.
Cornerbacks, Hank Poteat
Hank Poteat has coached cornerbacks at several stops across the Midwest, spending time at Wisconsin (2021-22), Toledo, (2017-2020), Kent State (2015-16), and Kentucky Christian (2011-12). He received his Power Four start when he was a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 2013 and 2014.
Safeties/Passing Game Coordinator, Deon Broomfield
Deon Broomfield played at Iowa State in the early 2010s before moving into the coaching industry. He’s spent most of his career at the college level but did spend one year as an assistant with the Houston Texans. Broomfield returned to Iowa State in 2021 to coach safeties, adding a passing game coordinator title in 2023.