The rebuild in Ames is picking up steam, and Jimmy Rogers isn’t wasting any time putting his stamp on Iowa State football.
The Cyclones are set to bring in Derrick Sherman, Houston’s wide receivers coach and assistant head coach, as the latest addition to Rogers’ emerging staff. It’s a strong move - one that adds both experience and proven production to a program looking to climb back up the Big 12 ladder.
Sherman arrives after two seasons at Houston, where he worked under Willie Fritz and helped craft one of the more explosive receiving duos in the conference. His lead target, Amare Thomas, finished second in the Big 12 in receiving yards, racking up 906 yards and 10 touchdowns on the year.
Tight end Tanner Koziol added another 651 yards and five scores, rounding out a Cougars passing attack that averaged 12.1 yards per catch. That kind of efficiency - stretching the field while keeping defenses honest - is exactly what Iowa State could use more of.
And Sherman’s track record doesn’t stop there. Before Houston, he made key stops across the college football landscape, including Tulane, Georgia Southern, Samford, Pittsburg State, West Virginia, and Southwest Baptist.
At Tulane, he helped develop receivers like Chris Brazzell, who would go on to make waves at Tennessee. His coaching résumé touches nearly every level of the game - from analyst roles to offensive coordinator duties - and that breadth of experience should serve him well in Ames.
He’ll inherit a passing game that showed flashes last season but never quite hit its stride. Iowa State finished seventh in the Big 12 in passing, averaging 221.4 yards per game and totaling 2,657 through the air.
But there’s a solid foundation to build on, especially with Rocco Becht returning under center. The three-year starter - and son of former NFL tight end Anthony Becht - brings both familiarity and leadership to the huddle.
That’s a luxury for any incoming position coach, and Sherman will no doubt look to elevate Becht’s game while developing the next wave of Cyclone playmakers.
This hire is just the latest in a string of moves by Rogers as he reshapes his staff. Earlier this week, Washington State’s interim defensive coordinator announced he’ll be joining Iowa State in the same role after wrapping up the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Rogers also brought in Jake Thornton, the former Auburn and Ole Miss offensive line coach, to oversee the trenches, and tapped former Cyclones wideout Chris Campbell to lead the strength and conditioning program.
Each hire points to a clear vision: surround the program with coaches who’ve been in the fire, who’ve developed talent, and who know how to win. Sherman checks all those boxes - and then some.
As the Cyclones look to turn the page and build something sustainable under Rogers, bringing in a coach like Sherman is more than just a solid hire. It’s a statement.