Iowa football is getting ready for a postseason game in Tampa, but the team suffered a big off-field setback before the Hawkeyes boarded the plane for the ReliaQuest Bowl.
One of the most successful special teams eras in Hawkeye history is coming to an end as head coach Kirk Ferentz announced on Thursday afternoon that longtime special teams coordinator LeVar Woods is leaving Iowa to take a job at Michigan State. Before formally leaving for East Lansing, Woods will stay with Iowa through its bowl game against No. 14 Vanderbilt. Pete Thamel of ESPN reports that Woods will take a significant step forward in his coaching career by joining Pat Fitzgerald’s recently assembled Michigan State staff as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.
Ferentz addressed the move publicly following practice, emphasizing both the difficulty of the decision and the opportunity it represents.
“I just want to take a minute here and give a program update,” Ferentz said. “LeVar Woods, who’s going to come up here in a second, has decided to take another position. He’s going to coach throughout the bowl game and then he’ll be headed to Michigan State. I know it was a tough decision for him, and it was a really good opportunity for him to consider. We’ve had several coaches have that opportunity as well, so first and foremost, I want to congratulate him.”
Woods was clearly moved by the announcement. Iowa was more than a place to work. It was at home. According to Woods, “there are places that make you and there are places that shape you.” “Iowa is both for me. This is where I grew up. I gained knowledge about what it means to work hard, take responsibility, persevere through difficult times, and prioritize the needs of the team over my own. I had the honor of wearing the black and gold and fulfilling a dream that many children in this state hold dear.
Former Hawkeyes starting linebacker Woods talked openly about what the University of Iowa offered him outside of football. He remarked, “I received more from the University of Iowa than just football.” “It saved my life.” During his nearly two decades with the program, Woods established himself as one of the most esteemed special teams experts in the country. With field position, discipline, and timely playmaking, his units were not only solid but consistently excellent, frequently swinging games in Iowa’s favor.
Some of the top specialists in college football came out of Iowa under his direction. Tory Taylor, a former punter, went on to win the Ray Guy Award and become one of the nation’s most influential players at his position. Charlie Jones, another illustration of Iowa’s superiority on special teams, won the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award in 2021. Most recently, Woods’ guidance has helped senior returner Kaden Wetjen thrive. Wetjen is a finalist this season after winning the Jet Award in 2024 as the best return specialist in the country. In addition, he has been named a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, On3, USA TODAY Sports, and the Football Writers Association of America, solidifying his place among the sport’s most dangerous returners.
These achievements weren’t made by chance. Woods was at the core of Iowa’s tough, meticulous, and unwaveringly consistent special teams identity, which came to define the program. Although Woods was formally appointed special teams coordinator at Iowa in March 2017, his ties to the program go much deeper. After working as an administrative assistant from 2008 to 2011, he transitioned into on-field positions as tight ends coach (2015–17) and linebackers coach (2012–14) before taking on special teams full-time.
Fitzgerald, who leads the Spartans after winning 110 games in 17 seasons at Northwestern from 2006 to 2022, is now leading him into a new chapter at Michigan State. Fitzgerald’s intention to fill his staff with experienced developers and program builders is indicated by this hire. The timing is bittersweet for Iowa. The Hawkeyes will have continuity as they finish the season with Woods coaching one last game in black and gold, but his departure creates a significant void going forward. The goal is still to finish strong as Iowa gets ready for its bowl matchup with Vanderbilt. Nevertheless, the program will be bidding farewell to a coach whose influence extended well beyond kicks and returns when the final whistle blows.
LeVar Woods contributed to the development of Iowa’s special teams. His next task is now ahead of him.
