Jimmy Rogers is named Iowa State’s next head football coach, marking a swift turn of events. When word leaked out that Penn State had signed former Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell to an eight-year contract, Iowa State didn’t hesitate to move forward. Iowa State had its next leader in place within hours of the development. Jimmy Rogers of Washington State was formally appointed head football coach for the 2026 campaign by the school, marking a bold and decisive transition into a new era for Cyclone football.
After just one season at Pullman, where he led Washington State to a 6–6 record in 2025, Rogers moves to Ames. Despite his short tenure with the Cougars, he has an impressive coaching resume. The majority of the 38-year-old’s career has been firmly anchored in the success and culture of his former school, South Dakota State, where he rose through the coaching ranks for 12 seasons before moving west.
Rogers held a number of positions at SDSU, including head coach, defensive coordinator, and linebackers coach. He seemed to get ready for the next step with each one. Following the retirement of longtime Jackrabbits coach John Stiegelmeier, Rogers took over and quickly imprinted his identity on the team. He led South Dakota State to the FCS national championship with a flawless 15-0 season in his first season as head coach. During that incredible run, he was reunited with a familiar face to Iowa supporters: current Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski, who was a key member of that championship team.
It took some time for Rogers to succeed at SDSU. Long before he was appointed head coach, he was instrumental in turning the Jackrabbits into one of the FCS’s best programs. He assisted in designing the defense that led to another FCS national championship in 2022 while serving as the team’s only defensive coordinator. The Jackrabbits also made it to the championship game two years prior during the peculiar 2020 football season. Rogers’ ability to improve a program seemed to be reinforced by each stop, role, and championship appearance.
Now, Iowa State is placing that belief in him.
Rogers has agreed to a six-year contract, the university announced. The long-term commitment shows how strongly athletic director Jamie Pollard and the Cyclones administration feel about Rogers’ future in Ames, even though the school hasn’t yet revealed the financial figures. For his part, Rogers stated that he is prepared to accept the opportunity as well as the expectations.
In the statement issued by the university, Rogers stated, “My family and I are excited to be joining the Iowa State University community and the Cyclone football program.” For the past ten years, Iowa State has been among the best programs in the country, and we are eager to continue its upward trend. I’m incredibly appreciative of Jamie Pollard giving me the chance to be the Cyclones’ leader.
This is more than just a new position for Rogers. It’s an opportunity to join a Power Five program that has demonstrated it can compete with the best when the right conditions are met and has steadily increased its national relevance. He expressed gratitude for the existing foundation and made that point very evident.
”This university has everything needed to compete at the highest level in college football, from the administration to the alumni and current student-athletes,” he stated. “I am thrilled to have this chance and responsibility and am eager to get going.”
Rogers has a head coaching record that demonstrates consistency and competitive excellence as he embarks on this new chapter. He has an all-time record of 33–9, which includes his year at Washington State. His two-year tenure at South Dakota State, where he went 27-3 and established himself as one of college football’s fastest-rising coaches, continues to be the focal point of his resume.
Big Ten supporters and Cyclone supporters won’t have to wait long to witness Rogers’ leadership on the field. His first game against Iowa, an in-state rival, is already marked on calendars. The Cyclones will visit Kinnick Stadium in early September 2026 as part of the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series, providing both fan bases with a firsthand look at the start of the new Iowa State era. Jimmy Rogers seems prepared to take the initiative and run with it for a program eager to sustain its momentum and build upon more than ten years of advancement.
