Iowa State hires Jimmy Rogers as coach following Matt Campbell's departure for Penn State

AMES, Iowa Iowa State acted swiftly to fill the coaching vacancy left by Matt Campbell, appointing Jimmy Rogers, formerly of Washington State, as their new head football coach on Friday evening.

The Cyclones responded immediately after Campbell accepted the head coaching position at Penn State, replacing the recently dismissed James Franklin. Rogers signed a six-year contract with Iowa State. He guided Washington State to a 6-6 record in his sole season there and previously led South Dakota State to two standout seasons, including an FCS championship.

"Jimmy Rogers is an emerging talent in college football with deep connections to the Midwest as both a player and a coach," said Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard. "He has been on our radar for years. From our first meeting, he showed genuine interest in Iowa State and expressed a clear desire to become our next head coach. Over time, his dedication and understanding of what it takes to succeed here have only impressed us more."

Rogers holds a 33-9 record over three years as a head coach and is among the select Washington State coaches to lead the team to a bowl game in their first season. "Iowa State has been a top program nationally for the past decade, and Im excited to help continue its growth," Rogers stated. "Im deeply thankful to Jamie Pollard for trusting me to lead the Cyclones."

Rogers coaching journey has been closely tied to South Dakota State, where he spent much of the last 20 years as a player and staff member. As head coach of the Jackrabbits, he amassed a 27-3 record over two seasons, capturing an FCS championship in 2023 and reaching the semifinals in 2024. A former linebacker at South Dakota State (20062009), Rogers served as a graduate assistant (20102011), spent a year at Florida Atlantic, and then returned to SDSU as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator before assuming the head coach role after John Stiegelmeier retired.

Rogers succeeds Iowa States most successful coach, Matt Campbell, who finished with a 72-55 record over a decade.

Author: Natalie Monroe