AMES - There's a new chapter unfolding in Ames, and it’s one that Cyclone fans will want to keep a close eye on. With Matt Campbell heading to Penn State, Iowa State has officially entered the Jimmy Rogers era. And while the head coach is the headline, the real story might be the staff he’s building - a group that blends familiarity, regional reach, and a whole lot of recruiting potential.
Rogers, fresh off his stint at Washington State, isn’t coming to Ames alone. He’s bringing some key pieces with him - including general manager Ricky Ciccone and chief of staff Jon Shaeffer - both of whom followed Rogers from Pullman.
Joining them are offensive coordinator Tyler Roehl and defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbit, also Rogers loyalists from Washington State. The rest of the on-field staff hasn’t been officially announced yet, but early reporting gives us a clear picture of what to expect.
Let’s break down the key hires, their backgrounds, and perhaps most importantly, where they might help Iowa State make recruiting inroads under Rogers' leadership.
Offensive Coordinator: Tyler Roehl
Roehl is a name Cyclone fans might remember - he spent the 2024 season in Ames coaching running backs before heading to the NFL to work with the Detroit Lions’ tight ends. Now, he’s back, this time with the keys to the offense.
A native of West Fargo, ND, Roehl spent nearly a decade at North Dakota State, where he led one of the most efficient offenses in the FCS from 2019 to 2023. His return to Iowa State feels like a natural fit, especially considering his recruiting ties in the upper Midwest. During his brief time in Ames, he helped land running back Ryver Peppers, a promising talent who was sidelined early in 2025 but is expected to redshirt.
Roehl has already made his first move in the 2027 class, offering a scholarship to Fargo tight end Drew Kessel - a 6-foot-6, 205-pound prospect with offers from Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Northwestern. That’s a clear signal that Roehl plans to tap into familiar territory.
Recruiting Reach: Midwest, Upper Midwest
Quarterbacks Coach: Keith Heckendorf
Heckendorf is returning to his roots after two decades coaching in the South.
Originally from Mosinee, Wisconsin, and a St. Cloud State alum, he brings experience from stints at Arkansas State and North Carolina.
Heckendorf’s return to the Midwest gives Iowa State a coach with deep ties in both the South Atlantic and South Central regions. That dual-region familiarity could be a valuable asset as the Cyclones look to expand their recruiting footprint beyond the Big 12’s traditional borders.
Recruiting Reach: South Atlantic, South Central
Running Backs Coach: John Johnson
Johnson is one of the few offensive hires with a direct connection to Rogers. The two worked together at South Dakota State, and Johnson’s recent stops include Sam Houston State and New Mexico.
Originally from El Dorado, Arkansas, and an Oklahoma State graduate, Johnson is well-positioned to help Iowa State gain traction in Texas - a region Rogers has already identified as a recruiting priority. Johnson’s familiarity with the Southwest could make him a key piece in the Cyclones’ push into that fertile recruiting ground.
Recruiting Reach: Texas, Southwest
Wide Receivers Coach: Derrick Sherman
Sherman might be the splashiest name on Rogers’ offensive staff. He spent the last several seasons with Willie Fritz at Tulane and Houston, serving as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for the Cougars.
Sherman hasn’t coached in the Midwest recently, but his deep ties in the South - especially Texas and Louisiana - are significant. With Rogers and his staff already making moves in Louisiana during their time at Washington State, Sherman’s experience in the region could help Iowa State plant deeper roots there.
Recruiting Reach: Texas, Louisiana
Tight Ends Coach: Seth Hestness
Hestness is stepping into a new level of competition, but he’s not new to Midwest football. A Wartburg University grad, Hestness has worked at North Dakota State, Minnesota, Liberty, and most recently Army.
Recruiting for a service academy like Army is a unique challenge, and now Hestness will get a chance to show what he can do on the Power Conference stage. His background suggests he’ll be most effective in the upper Midwest, particularly in Iowa and surrounding states.
Recruiting Reach: Iowa, Upper Midwest
Offensive Line Coach: Jake Thornton
Thornton brings a dose of SEC experience to the Cyclones. He’s coached offensive lines at both Ole Miss and Auburn, and prior to that, worked at Gardner-Webb and served as a grad assistant at Alabama under Nick Saban during their 2017 national title run.
That kind of pedigree doesn’t just bring coaching chops - it brings an understanding of how to recruit elite talent. While Thornton will need to adjust to new territory in the Midwest, his experience in the Southeast could open doors for Iowa State in a region loaded with talent.
Recruiting Reach: Southeast
Defensive Line Coach: Jalon Bibbs
Bibbs is one of Rogers’ most trusted assistants, dating back to their time at South Dakota State. The two won a national title together in 2023, and Bibbs followed Rogers to Washington State and now to Ames.
Bibbs has already made an impact on the recruiting trail, helping land defensive lineman Savion Barthelemy out of Louisiana in the 2026 class. His versatility as a recruiter - with ties in both the Midwest and the South - gives Iowa State a flexible asset on the defensive side of the ball.
Recruiting Reach: Midwest, South
Defensive Backs Coach: Mike Banks
Like Bibbs, Banks is another longtime Rogers ally.
He played at Illinois State and has coached at South Dakota and Washington State before joining Iowa State. With deep roots in the Midwest and a strong familiarity with Rogers’ system, Banks is well-positioned to help the Cyclones re-establish a recruiting presence in Illinois and surrounding states.
Recruiting Reach: Midwest, Illinois
What It All Means
With much of the staff in place, it’s clear that Rogers is assembling a group that reflects his values: loyalty, regional familiarity, and a willingness to recruit hard. There’s a heavy South Dakota State and Washington State influence, but also a strategic effort to bring in coaches with ties to key recruiting territories like Texas, the Southeast, and the Midwest.
It’s a staff built not just to coach - but to compete on the recruiting trail. And if they can translate those relationships into results, Iowa State could be poised for a strong start under Jimmy Rogers.