Iowa State: a football coaching history

Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.

2026–now

Jimmy Rogers Short tenure

No outlier style signal this stint

vs. Iowa

4-4

2016–2025

Matt Campbell Builder

Matt Campbell raised Iowa State from Regional Program III to National Program I.

No outlier style signal this stint

vs. Iowa

+18.4 pts over 10 seasons · top 29% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina run (2005–2015)

1st-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Paul Rhoads (2009–2015) · succeeded by Jimmy Rogers (2026–now).

System Shift, on departure

System Shift, on arrival

Season	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025
Record & result
Record	3-9	8-5	8-5	7-6	9-3	7-6	4-8	7-6	11-3	8-4
Postseason	—	W bowl	L bowl	L bowl	W bowl	L bowl	—	L bowl	W bowl	—
Recruiting rank	#55	#52	#55	#46	#46	#59	#39	#42	#53	#54
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	46.5	52.8	43.9	54.0	45.0	52.0	54.9	49.9	48.0	42.0
Coordinators
OC	Tom Manning	Tom Manning	—	Tom Manning	Tom Manning	Tom Manning	Tom Manning	Nathan Scheelhaase	Taylor Mouser	Taylor Mouser
DC	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock	Jon Heacock
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	64	71	77	64	91	79	7	73	61	52
Defense	24	68	58	40	86	63	73	49	21	71
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	37.9	43.5	37.8	49.4	37.1	44.1	44.4	43.1	37.6	35.9
Red-zone pass%	40.0	47.5	32.8	45.5	28.9	39.1	53.6	46.4	39.0	30.1
4th-down go%opp. territory	32.5	29.4	32.6	32.1	35.1	35.9	44.7	20.8	35.3	39.6

Recruiter or developer?

Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.

Offense vs. talent

+12.5 pts

#56 of 208 · middle half

Defense vs. talent

+3.9 pts

#83 of 208 · middle half

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Roster construction · portal era

Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.

Portal arrivals

3.0★ avg rating

Portal departures

left via the portal

Net portal flow

-54

#168 of 187 FBS stints

Who they bring in

Brings in bigger-than-position-typical players than most.

Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.

Avg. size (raw)

6′3″, 249 lbs

across 19 of 24 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix

Size vs. position-typical

+9.1 lbs

#24 of 255 · top quarter

Avg. class year

#3 of 255 · top quarter

Top states: TX (4), IL (4), MO (2), MN (2), FL (2)

Who won the portal our read

Talent added

52.7

position-weighted

Talent lost

55.8

position-weighted

Net

-3.1

arrivals minus departures

Best addition: Conrad Hawley (QB) from Kansas

Biggest loss: JJ Kohl (QB) to App State

Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.

Does the system survive a coordinator change?

OC: Tom Manning → Nathan Scheelhaase · 2023

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 44.4% → 43.1% (-1.3 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 64% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

OC: Nathan Scheelhaase → Taylor Mouser · 2024

1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.

1st-down pass rate: 43.1% → 37.6% (-5.5 pts)

Confound, shown not hidden: only 90% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.

Roster size, by position

Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)

Quarterback

217 lbs

6′2″ avg · #253 of 767 · middle half

Running back

212 lbs

6′0″ avg · #221 of 791 · middle half

Wide receiver

203 lbs

6′2″ avg · #48 of 791 · top quarter

Tight end

255 lbs

6′6″ avg · #68 of 731 · top quarter

Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters

Interior line

314 lbs

6′5″ avg · #199 of 779 · middle half

D-line

282 lbs

6′3″ avg · #433 of 753 · middle half

Edge

268 lbs

6′4″ avg · #17 of 188 · top quarter

Linebacker

232 lbs

6′2″ avg · #212 of 772 · middle half

Cornerback

200 lbs

6′1″ avg · #24 of 771 · top quarter

Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Kicker from high school

75%

#49 of 56 stints

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Postseason detail2017: Beat Memphis 21-20 Bowl2018: Lost to Washington State 26-28 Valero Alamo Bowl2019: Lost to Notre Dame 9-33 Camping World Bowl2020: Beat Oregon 34-17 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl2021: Lost to Clemson 13-20 Cheez-It Bowl2023: Lost to Memphis 26-36 AutoZone Liberty Bowl2024: Beat Miami 42-41 Pop-Tarts Bowl

16 NFL Draft picks: David Montgomery (2019), Hakeem Butler (2019), Kene Nwangwu (2021), Breece Hall (2022), Eyioma Uwazurike (2022), Charlie Kolar (2022), Brock Purdy (2022), Will McDonald IV (2023) + 8 more

6 player-seasons honored (All-America / national award): Breece Hall (2020), JaQuan Bailey (2020), Mike Rose (2020), Breece Hall (2021), Will McDonald IV (2021), Xavier Hutchinson (2022)

+18.4

72-55

2009–2015

Paul Rhoads Steady

Paul Rhoads moved the Cyclones from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 7 seasons.

2014 defense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad

vs. Iowa

+4.4 pts over 7 seasons · top 36% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Mike Kruczek’s UCF run (1998–2003)

7th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Gene Chizik (2007–2008) · succeeded by Matt Campbell (2016–2025).

System Shift, on arrival

System Shift, on departure

Season	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Record & result
Record	7-6	5-7	6-7	6-7	3-9	2-10	3-9
Postseason	W bowl	—	L bowl	L bowl	—	—	—
Recruiting rank	#72	#68	#59	#67	#63	#59	#64
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	42.4	45.0	47.4	49.6	46.0	55.9	45.2
Coordinators
OC	—	—	—	—	—	Mark Mangino	Mark Mangino
DC	—	—	—	—	—	Wally Burnham	Wally Burnham
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	59	25	19	17	32	19	38
Defense	26	33	51	24	62	4	32
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	38.5	37.5	44.6	42.7	42.6	48.5	35.7
Red-zone pass%	37.8	34.7	38.7	46.2	33.3	52.0	41.5
4th-down go%opp. territory	23.1	25.7	40.6	17.9	26.8	26.5	30.8

Recruiter or developer?

Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.

Offense vs. talent

-12.5 pts

#159 of 208 · bottom quarter

Defense vs. talent

-18.9 pts

#174 of 208 · bottom quarter

Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Tight end from high school

100%

#164 of 188 stints

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Postseason detail2009: Beat Minnesota 14-13 Bowl2011: Lost to Rutgers 13-27 New Era Pinstripe Bowl2012: Lost to Tulsa 17-31 AutoZone LIBERTY BOWL

5 NFL Draft picks: Reginald Stephens (2010), Kelechi Osemele (2012), A.J. Klein (2013), Carter Bykowski (2013), Jeremiah George (2014)

+4.4

32-55

2007–2008

Gene Chizik Short tenure

2008 defense ranked in the 2th percentile nationally — historically bad

vs. Iowa

5-19

1995–2006

Dan McCarney Steady

Dan McCarney moved the Cyclones from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 12 seasons.

2006 defense ranked in the 1th percentile nationally — historically bad

vs. Iowa

+5.6 pts over 12 seasons · bottom 23% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Craig Bohl’s Wyoming run (2014–2023)

6th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Jim Walden (1987–1994) · succeeded by Gene Chizik (2007–2008).

System Shift, on departure

Season	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Record & result
Record	3-8	2-9	1-10	3-8	4-7	9-3	7-5	7-7	2-10	7-5	7-5	4-8
Postseason	—	—	—	—	—	W bowl	L bowl	L bowl	—	W bowl	L bowl	—
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	#46	#51	#42
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	39.6	42.8	48.5
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	21	33	59
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	94	28	1
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	35.4	37.3	39.4
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	29.6	32.8	23.0
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	45.2	22.5	43.3

Where the roster comes from, by position

Grows Edge from high school

100%

#191 of 208 stints

Grows Running back from high school

100%

#196 of 208 stints

Postseason detail2000: Beat Pittsburgh 37-29 Bowl2001: Lost to Alabama 13-14 Bowl2002: Lost to Boise State 16-34 Bowl2004: Beat Miami (OH) 17-13 Bowl2005: Lost to TCU 24-27 Bowl

11 NFL Draft picks: Troy Davis (1997), Tim Kohn (1997), Oliver Ross (1998), Reggie Hayward (2001), Sage Rosenfels (2001), James Reed (2001), Mike Banks (2002), Seneca Wallace (2003) + 3 more

+5.6

56-85

1987–1994

Jim Walden Steady

Jim Walden held the Cyclones at Regional Program III for 8 seasons.

vs. Iowa

+1.5 pts over 8 seasons · bottom 46% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Larry Fedora’s North Carolina run (2012–2018)

10th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Jim Criner (1983–1986) · succeeded by Dan McCarney (1995–2006).

4 NFL Draft picks: Keith Sims (1990), Marcus Robertson (1991), Gene Williams (1991), Blaise Bryant (1991)

+1.5

28-57-3

1986

Chuck Banker Short tenure

vs. Iowa

1-1

1983–1986

Jim Criner Steady

Jim Criner slid the Cyclones from National Program III to Regional Program I in 4 seasons.

vs. Iowa

−12.0 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 7% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Rich Rodriguez’s Michigan run (2008–2010)

5th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Donnie Duncan (1979–1982) · succeeded by Jim Walden (1987–1994).

2 NFL Draft picks: Chris Washington (1984), Tracy Henderson (1985)

−12.0

16-24-2

1979–1982

Donnie Duncan Steady

Donnie Duncan slid the Cyclones from National Program II to National Program III in 4 seasons.

vs. Iowa

−7.6 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 22% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Cam Cameron’s Indiana run (1997–2001)

3rd-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Earle Bruce (1973–1978) · succeeded by Jim Criner (1983–1986).

4 NFL Draft picks: Kenny Neil (1981), Dwayne Crutchfield (1982), Dan Johnson (1982), Karl Nelson (1983)

−7.6

18-24-2

1973–1978

Earle Bruce Steady

Earle Bruce moved the Cyclones from Regional Program I to National Program II in 6 seasons.

vs. Iowa

+7.8 pts over 6 seasons · top 24% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Tom Allen’s Indiana run (2016–2023)

2nd-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Johnny Majors (1968–1972) · succeeded by Donnie Duncan (1979–1982).

Season	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978
Record & result
Record	4-7	4-7	4-7	8-3	8-4	8-4
Postseason	—	—	—	—	L bowl	L bowl
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1977: Lost to NC State 14-24 Bowl1978: Lost to Texas A&M 12-28 Bowl

8 NFL Draft picks: Matt Blair (1974), Ike Harris (1974), Keith Krepfle (1974), Barry Hill (1975), Luther Blue (1977), Al Dixon (1977), Tom Randall (1978), Mike Stensrud (1979)

+7.8

36-32

1968–1972

Johnny Majors Steady

Johnny Majors moved Iowa State from Regional Program III to Regional Program I in 5 seasons.

+6.9 pts over 5 seasons · top 10% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Sonny Dykes’s Louisiana Tech run (2010–2012)

4th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Clay Stapleton (1958–1967) · succeeded by Earle Bruce (1973–1978).

Season	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
Record & result
Record	3-7	3-7	5-6	8-4	5-6-1
Postseason	—	—	—	L bowl	L bowl
Recruiting rank	—	—	—	—	—
Style — pass rate
Pass rate	—	—	—	—	—
Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile
Offense	—	—	—	—	—
Defense	—	—	—	—	—
Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script
1st-down pass%	—	—	—	—	—
Red-zone pass%	—	—	—	—	—
4th-down go%opp. territory	—	—	—	—	—

Postseason detail1971: Lost to LSU 15-33 Bowl1972: Lost to Georgia Tech 30-31 Bowl

5 NFL Draft picks: Otto Stowe (1971), Dean Carlson (1972), George Amundson (1973), Dave McCurry (1973), George Campbell (1973)

+6.9

24-30-1

1958–1967

Clay Stapleton Steady≈

Clay Stapleton moved Iowa State from Regional Program V to Regional Program II in 10 seasons.

+11.6 pts over 10 seasons · bottom 48% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Jackie Sherrill’s Mississippi State run (1991–2003)

8th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Jim Myers (1957) · succeeded by Johnny Majors (1968–1972).

+11.6

42-53-4

1957

Jim Myers Short tenure

4-5-1

1954–1956

Vince Di Francesca Steady

Vince Di Francesca slid Iowa State from Regional Program IV to Regional Program V in 3 seasons.

−4.6 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 39% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Barry Wilson’s Duke run (1990–1993)

13th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Abe Stuber (1947–1953) · succeeded by Jim Myers (1957).

−4.6

6-21-1

1947–1953

Abe Stuber Steady

Abe Stuber held the Cyclones at Regional Program IV for 7 seasons.

+0.8 pts over 7 seasons · bottom 43% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Dave Aranda’s Baylor run (2020–now)

12th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Mike Michalske (1942–1946) · succeeded by Vince Di Francesca (1954–1956).

+0.8

24-38-3

1942–1946

Mike Michalske Steady

Mike Michalske moved Iowa State from Regional Program IV to Regional Program III in 5 seasons.

+0.6 pts over 5 seasons · top 31% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Lou Tepper’s Illinois run (1992–1996)

11th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed Ray Donels (1941–1942) · succeeded by Abe Stuber (1947–1953).

+0.6

18-18-3

1941–1942

Ray Donels Short tenure

3-8-1

1937–1940

Jim Yeager Steady

Jim Yeager slid the Cyclones from Regional Program II to Regional Program III in 4 seasons.

−3.5 pts over 4 seasons · bottom 45% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)

Closest comparable run: Ron Dickerson’s Temple run (1993–1997)

9th-best Iowa State tenure of 13 by the numbers.

Followed George Veenker (1936) · succeeded by Ray Donels (1941–1942).

−3.5

16-19-1

1936

George Veenker Short tenure

3-3-2