Since 2026
Won a 2023 FCS national title at South Dakota State, then spent one season at Washington State (bowl-eligible, won the Idaho Famous Potato Bowl) before Iowa State hired him in Dec. 2025. Inherits a program coming off its best stretch in school history under Matt Campbell, who left for Penn State just weeks after finalizing a below-market extension specifically designed to fund the roster.
Record & context
Lifetime recordFirst Power 4 head-coaching job
Current program1st season at Iowa State
Years in system—
ATS contextNo single published career ATS figure Iowa State finished 2025 under Campbell before his surprise Penn State move; the Cyclones had reached the Big 12 title game in 2024 (11-3, program-record win total) and remained competitive through a tougher second half of 2025.
Previous seasonCoaching transition season
Compensation
Salary$3.0M
SourceCoach salary per Iowa State Daily/KCCI (FOIA'd contract: 6-yr deal through Jan. 2032, base rising with performance bonuses up to $500K for a Big 12 title). Iowa State has not discl
Designationreported
Confidence—
Figures are labeled by designation. Estimated values are not official contract terms.