Sep 30, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell reacts during the second half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Iowa State football lost its offensive coordinator this week in Nate Scheelhaase’s move to be the Passing Game Analyst spot with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.
Scheelhaase spent one season as the offensive coordinator in Ames after being promoted to the spot in December of 2022 in anticipation of the 2023 season.
Iowa State’s offense took a step forward last year, and Scheelhaase leaves behind some bigger shoes to fill. Here are five potential candidates – not in any specific order – that Iowa State may turn to for it’s next O.C.
Taylor Mouser | Iowa State tight ends coach
Mouser has been with Iowa State since Matt Campbell arrived in Ames.
He’s the most experienced assistant coach that is still with the program on the offensive side of the ball, and led the development of Charlie Kolar, Chase Allen and Dylan Soehner among others since taking the job ahead of the 2019 season.
Mouser started out as a graduate assistant, and will enter his ninth season with the Iowa State staff this fall, and could be the in-house hire that Iowa State has made in the past.
Joel Gordon | USF offensive coordinator/QB coach
USF’s Joel Gordon was a part of Iowa State’s staff since Campbell arrived in Ames until he departed to take his current position under former Iowa State assistant Alex Golesch.
Gordon was the passing game coordinator during Brock Purdy’s entire career in Ames and has as much experience as anyone does coaching alongside Campbell.
Lou Ayeni | Denver Broncos running backs coach
Ayeni just completed his first season with the Denver Broncos as running backs coach, and before that held the same position along with a recruiting coordinator title at Northwestern.
Ayeni was one member from Paul Rhoads’ staff in his final two seasons in Ames that stuck around when Campbell took over. That was largely due to the relationship the two had while Ayeni was the running backs coach and Toledo in 2010 and remained there for three more seasons as the running game coordinator and assistant H.C. He oversaw the development of Kareem Hunt, and David Montgomery.
Scott Isphording | Ohio offensive coordinator
Isphording has been coaching in college football for two decades now, with his most recent stint coming at Ohio University, which began in the 2014 season. He’s been a MAC guy through and through – starting his FBS experience at Eastern Michigan where he was the offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008.
From 2010-2013, Isphording coached alongside Campbell at Toledo and served as the recruiting coordinator during his final two seasons there. In those two years, he helped the Rockets land the top recruiting classes in the conference and was named MAC Recruiter of the Year by Scout and Rivals.
Ryan Clanton | Iowa State offensive line coach
Clanton has been Iowa State’s offensive line coach for just one season thus far, but does have five years of experience at the offensive coordinator spot at UNI. In his final year with the Panthers, the offense finished in No. 16 in the country in total offense and ranked in the top 10 in third down conversion percentage, passing yards per completion percentage and tackles for a loss allowed.
That goes along with Iowa State’s No. 11 finish in the nation in sacks allowed during his first year as the offensive line leader.
It’s still early in the process for Iowa State, not yet 24 hours removed from the move being made. Don’t expect the program to move as fast as possible to find a replacement just to simply have one – that’s never been its M.O. However, with the timing of it and spring football just one month away, the move will be made in a timely manner.
