Elliott clan pleased by his return to?Midwest

Bob Elliott kept two major goals in mind the past year: getting back into coaching and getting closer to family and friends in the Midwest.

Newly hired as Iowa State's secondary coach and recruiting coordinator, Elliott found the best of both worlds.

The coaching veteran at Iowa (1987-98) and ISU (81-82, 2000-01) spent three seasons as Chuck Long's defensive coordinator at San Diego State and was hired on as an athletics fundraiser a year ago once the football staff was let go.

“The weather there was great, but it wasn't home,” Elliott said. “(Wife) Joey and I decided long ago we were coming back to Iowa. It was just getting here.”

That wasn't looking promising once Elliott started job hunting for opportunities in and out of football.

“I wasn't sure I'd ever coach again,” said Elliott, who is 56 and has a history of health problems.

The stars aligned for Elliott's return to ISU under Coach Paul Rhoads, whom Elliott succeeded in 2000 when Rhoads left for Pittsburgh.

They have the same agent, and Elliott's recruiting ties in Iowa and California could be a big asset as they were for the coach he's replacing, Chris Ash, who took at job at Wisconsin.

He's never worked with Rhoads but after two weeks on the job has been very impressed by the second-year coach.

“The power of his personality and the credibility and respect he has with the players is top of the line,” Elliott said. “When Iowa State hired Paul, I thought they hit a home run. He was exactly the profile they needed, and he's proven that to be the case. They made a really smart decision.”

Elliott had success coaching defensive backs and special teams during his last stint at ISU. He moved on to Kansas State to be its defensive coordinator and posted two 11-win seasons and a Big 12 championship. He was an easy choice for the job.

“I am thrilled that we were able to make this happen,” Rhoads said. “He possesses everything I was looking for in a coach.”

And ISU provides the perfect fit for Elliott, who is healthy and motivated to coach again.

“I always knew (the fundraising job) was temporary,” Elliott said. “I missed the kids, the camaraderie with the staff and the thrills.”

Elliott's parents, son and grandson are in Iowa City. He has a daughter living in Lawrence, Kan., and his wife's family is scattered in Iowa and the Chicago area.

Joey Elliott is just as happy as her husband with the new job.

“For 30 years my wife has traipsed all over the country for me,” Elliott said. “This time I wanted to get her home with her family and her friends and do something for her.”