Inside Iowa State’s Defensive Overhaul: How Jimmy Rogers and His Crew Are Building Something New in Ames
AMES - The Cyclones’ new defensive staff didn’t just roll into Ames with fresh resumes and clean playbooks - they arrived with a bond forged through long hours, shared homes, and a collective mission. For weeks, the group worked side-by-side in the Stark Performance Center, grinding through 10-hour days to reshape Iowa State’s roster. When the sun went down, the coaching continued - just in a different setting.
“There was anywhere from four to six guys, depending on when people moved into their houses,” said safeties coach Pete Menage during his introductory press conference. “So, it was cool.
It was, honestly, a fun experience. Missed the wife and kids during that time, and those times are always tough.
But it's easier when you're extremely close with the group of guys that you can do it together.”
That closeness isn’t just talk. This is the second straight offseason that many of these coaches have packed up and moved together - first from South Dakota State to Washington State, and now to Iowa State - all in support of head coach Jimmy Rogers.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit, defensive line coach Jalon Bibbs, cornerbacks coach Mike Banks, and Menage have made the full journey. The only new face to the Rogers-led defensive unit is Ross Watson, who now oversees SAM linebackers and nickels after a long run at Toledo, including a five-year stint as co-defensive coordinator.
That kind of continuity matters - especially when you’re trying to build something that lasts.
“Being able to do this with the same people now twice, that helps the family aspect of everything,” said Banks. “When it's all well on the home front, everything is well in terms of the job. So, being able to do it with Coach Rogers and his family, Coach Bobbit and his family, that's been huge for me.”
The new staff inherits a defense that’s been the backbone of Iowa State football for years. Under the previous regime, the Cyclones consistently ranked among the Big 12’s best in key defensive metrics. That legacy isn’t lost on the incoming coaches - in fact, it’s fueling them.
Ross Watson, who has known former head coach Matt Campbell and his staff for years, isn’t shy about his competitive edge.
“I want to outdo Matt,” Watson said. “I got just enough pettiness in me that that's a big part of it.
And I say that with love. We won a national championship together (at Mount Union).
But what am I doing? I want to outdo Matt.”
That blend of respect and drive is exactly the kind of energy this new era of Cyclone football is being built on. There’s a clear standard in Ames - one established over nearly a decade of defensive consistency.
But Rogers and his staff aren’t here just to maintain it. They’re here to raise the bar.
And if the early signs - the long hours, the shared houses, the cross-country loyalty - are any indication, this group isn’t just talking about culture. They’re living it.