Iowa going to hire Washington state Coach Jimmie Rodgers will replace Matt Campbell, the school announced Friday. Campbell was noted as Penn State new coach after a long search it began after James Franklin was fired in October.
Rogers, 38, led Washington State to a 6-6 record in his first and only season. The Cougars, whose Pac-12 schedule largely included non-conference play with only Oregon State, faced ranked opponents on the road in October, narrowly losing to Ole Miss and Virginia by a combined five points. Despite the losses, Rodgers became only the fourth coach in Washington State history to lead the Cougars to a bowl game in his first season at the helm. Washington State will now begin its search for its third coach in as many years after Jake Dickert left for Wake Forest after the 2024 season.
“Jimmy Rogers is a rising star in college athletics who has very strong ties to the Midwest, both as a player and as a coach,” Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard said. “He's been on my list since I first met him. He immediately impressed me with his interest in the University of Iowa and told me on our first visit several years ago that he wanted to be the next head coach at Iowa State.
“I have remained in close contact with him since our first meeting and have been very impressed with his work ethic and understanding of what it takes to be successful at Iowa State,” he added. “He is a proven winner who has demonstrated throughout his career that he fits our culture.”
Before coming to Pullman, Washington, Rogers compiled a strong resume as the coach of FCS team South Dakota State from 2023-24. Rodgers led the Jackrabbits to a perfect 15-0 record in the 2023 campaign, including a win over Montana in the FCS title game.
He followed that up with a 12-3 campaign in 2024, capturing a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference crown and advancing to the FCS semifinals.
In two seasons, he compiled a 27-3 record while leading one of the most dominant defensive units in FCS history. South Dakota State led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 9.3 points per game in 2023, and ranked among the top teams in total defense, rushing offense and team efficiency.
Jimmie Rodgers' Coaching Record
|
2023 |
State of South Dakota |
15-0 |
FCS Champion |
|
2024 |
State of South Dakota |
12-3 |
FCC semifinals |
|
2025 |
Washington state |
6-6 |
Bowl (TBD) |
|
Results |
3 seasons |
33-9 (0.786) |
Rogers began his coaching career in 2010 as an assistant at his alma mater, South Dakota State, after finishing his playing career as a two-time all-conference linebacker and team captain. After briefly working as an assistant at Florida Atlantic In 2012, he returned to South Dakota State as the linebackers coach in 2013. Over the next decade, he rose to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, mentoring several All-American linebackers. His defense consistently ranks among the best in the country and he has earned recognition as the 2022 FCS Coordinator of the Year.
Rodgers was named to the top job after legendary coach John Stiegelmeier retired after the 2023 season.
“My family and I are very excited to join the Iowa State University community and the Cyclone football program,” Rogers said. “Iowa State has been one of the best programs in the country over the last decade, and we look forward to continuing its upward trajectory. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that Jamie Pollard has given me to lead the Cyclones.
“From the administration to the alumni to the current student-athletes, this university has what it takes to compete at the highest level in college football,” he added. “I’m honored to have this opportunity and responsibility and can’t wait to get to work.”
Rogers inherited the job from Campbell, Iowa State's all-time winningest coach. Campbell went 72-55 (.567) in the decade and put together the program's best modern season last year, when the Cyclones finished 11-3 and played in the Big 12 title game.
