Iowa Football adds Jay Niemann to staff

Iowa football is keeping it local to replace the legendary Reese Morgan on its staff:

Jay Niemann, father of current Hawkeye Nick Niemann and former Hawk (and current Kansas City Chief) Ben, will assume defensive line coaching duties. From 2016-18 he served as the defensive coordinator for Rutgers. He had previously accepted a job as the linebackers coach at Wyoming (and prior to that a defensive analyst at Kansas under Les Miles).

A native of Avoca, IA., Niemann has been coaching college football in one form or another for the past 35 years. Having positions at Drake, Simpson, and Northern Iowa under his belt will open the door for in-state recruiting connections, as many have pointed out that was arguably Morgan’s greatest strength during his time on the Hawkeye staff. He played his college ball at Iowa State, but we can forgive that. He was also the defensive coordinator for Northern Illinois’ Orange Bowl team in 2012, so there’s that.

By all accounts, Niemann is probably a little overqualified for this role as Iowa’s defensive line coach, but I’m here for it. Jim Reid was Iowa’s linebackers coach from 2013-15, and he parlayed that role to become the defensive coordinator at Boston College, so that similarity has been pointed out.

I feel really good about this hire, and I look forward to seeing what Niemann brings to the football facility outside his very talented sons.

Best of luck to Niemann in his new role, and go Hawks!