Iowa hires recruiting coordinator

IOWA CITY - Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz liked what he saw from Seth Wallace during his stint as a grad assistant. And so Thursday, Wallace was named Iowa's recruiting coordinator and an assistant coach.

Seth Wallace, an Iowa graduate assistant football coach from 2006-08, comes to the Iowa staff from Valdosta (Georgia) State University, where he has served as defensive coordinator for the past three seasons. Wallace coached the Valdosta State defensive line in 2013 and defensive backs from 2009-12. He joined the Valdosta State staff after his three-year stint with the Iowa program.

'We are excited to have Seth return to Iowa,” Ferentz said in a statement. 'Seth did a tremendous job here as a graduate assistant and has distinguished himself serving in several roles at Valdosta State. Seth is an excellent teacher, highly organized, knowledgeable and is an outstanding person.”

Along with serving as recruiting coordinator, Wallace will have assistant coaching duties. In Thursday's release, Iowa didn't specify what position Wallace would coach.

During his previous time on the Iowa coaching staff, Wallace worked with the defense, primarily the defensive secondary. Wallace also gained college coaching experience at Lake Forest College (2003-05) in Lake Forest, Illinois and Coe College (2001-02).

'My wife and I, along with our son Landry, are excited to be rejoining the Iowa football family,” Wallace said. 'Coach Ferentz, coach Norm Parker and coach Phil Parker provided a wonderful opportunity for me in 2006 when I began my graduate assistantship with the Iowa football program. I am thankful to coach Ferentz for the opportunity to return, and I look forward to working alongside the coaching staff in the future.”

Wallace has deep ties to the state of Iowa. He started his coaching career at Coe College here in Cedar Rapids. He worked with the team's wide receivers and tight ends and served as a special teams assistant in two seasons with the Kohawks.

As a player at Coe, Wallace was a four-year starter at wide receiver while also serving as one of the school's return specialists. He earned all-Iowa Conference honors in 1999 and 2000 and led the nation as a punter returner as a freshman in 1997, when he averaged 30.1 yards per return, the third-highest average in NCAA Division III history. Wallace ranked 26th in the Division III ranks in receiving yards in 2000 and finished his career among the top three in Coe College history in receiving yards in a game, season and career.

He played his prep career at Grinnell High School, where he earned all-state honors at running back as a senior in 1996. He helped his school advance to the Iowa Class 3A state quarterfinals in his final year and participated in the Iowa High School Shrine Bowl following the season. Wallace is the son of Greg Wallace, Grinnell College athletic director and former head football coach.

Wallace helped Valdosta State win the 2012 NCAA Division II national title with a 12-2 overall record. Valdosta State won the 2010 Gulf South Conference title and advanced to the NCAA playoffs. Since 2010, Valdosta State has ranked in the top 25 percent nationally in several defensive categories, including scoring defense, pass efficiency defense, red zone defense, interceptions and turnovers gained.

In his 13 seasons coaching on the collegiate level, Wallace has served as both offensive and defensive coordinator, coached defensive backs, defensive line and wide receivers, along with holding special teams duties in 12 of the 13 seasons.

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