Jimmy Rogers Steps Into Iowa State’s Head Coaching Role With a Clear Mission: Keep the Core, Build the Future
When Jimmy Rogers walked into his first team meeting as Iowa State’s new head football coach, the room was thick with emotion. This wasn’t just another coaching transition.
The players he was addressing had committed to Matt Campbell - a coach who had redefined Iowa State football over the past decade. Now, Campbell was headed to Penn State, and Rogers was stepping into a locker room still processing that loss.
“I told them, ‘If you didn’t feel this way, it wasn’t done right,’” Rogers said during his introductory press conference. “The fact that it feels this way, that you feel the pain, the hurt - it’s a credit to Coach Campbell that there are feelings inside you.”
That emotional honesty is going to be key for Rogers as he takes over a program that’s in better shape than most first-year head coaches inherit. Iowa State just wrapped up an eight-win season in 2025 and has won a program-record 26 games since the start of 2023.
This isn’t a rebuild - it’s a handoff. And Rogers knows the first order of business is simple but crucial: keep the roster intact.
This Cyclones team is built to win right now. More than 15 starters from the 2025 campaign are expected back, and the group is talented enough to make a legitimate run at the Big 12 title in 2026.
That’s why retention is priority No. 1.
“I told them just give us a shot, hear us out,” Rogers said. “I want to get to know them.
I’m not going to expect them to immediately love me. I’m a normal human being, and we have to get to know each other.
We’ll close that gap of a relationship that was already existing prior.”
It’s a grounded, honest approach - and one that could pay off quickly. If Rogers can keep key playmakers like quarterback Rocco Becht, tight end Benjamin Brahmer, and safety Marcus Neal Jr. in Cardinal and Gold, Iowa State won’t just be competitive - they’ll be dangerous. Those three are foundational pieces, the kind of players who not only win you games but also help build a culture.
Becht has already shown he can command the offense. Brahmer is a mismatch nightmare at tight end.
And Neal Jr. gives the Cyclones a tone-setter on the back end of the defense. Keeping that trio in Ames would give Rogers a strong launching pad for his first season - and maybe even a shot at a conference title.
But Rogers isn’t just thinking about 2026. He’s also playing the long game.
The five-year plan matters just as much as the next 12 months. Who are the underclassmen and developmental players on the current roster who could become stars in 2027 and 2028?
Those evaluations are already underway.
It’s a delicate balance - win now, while also building for what’s next. But Rogers seems to understand that better than most.
He’s not trying to replace Campbell’s legacy. He’s trying to honor it by continuing the climb.
And that starts with trust - in the locker room, in the relationships, and in the belief that Iowa State football isn’t just a stepping stone. It’s a destination.