Todd Stepsis about building character within UNI football

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa president Mark Nook and director of athletics Megan Franklin formally introduced new head football coach Todd Stepsis at a news conference Monday afternoon at McLeod Center.

Stepsis — the 24th coach in UNI football history — won the favor of Franklin and Nook in a pool of 30 applicants that became 14 candidates, then six in-person interviews and ultimately three finalists.

At the podium Stepsis prioritized development of championship players over wins and championships — making it clear the player experience will be what defines his program.

“Everything that we’re going to do here really revolves around one mission and one mindset. How can we create a brotherhood and an experience that’s going to lead to us becoming champions year after year after year?” Stepsis said. “So, I hope you all heard me say champions — and I didn’t say championships.

“I’m aware of the expectations of this place. We’re going to strive to win as many championships as we can. But, I’m never going to talk about that kind of stuff. I’m going to talk about developing champions. There’s a difference.”

Stepsis was joined by his wife, Angie, and two of his four children, Addison and Avery, and described how Addison played a part in convincing him now was the time to say “yes” to the next opportunity in his career.

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“My 11-year old (Addison) — the decision wasn’t a no brainer for us because of how much we had poured into Drake and how much that place and community really meant to us — she looked at me Monday night and she said ‘you know Dad when we walked around (UNI) the other night, that place was really cool and the people there that we met were really nice. It feels like they need us there,” Stepsis said. “It feels like God wants us there, and we should go. We moved from Michigan to Iowa and it worked out pretty good. So we’ll go there and it’ll be great,.

“So, why now? That was a big reason. Beyond all the awesome stuff about this place.”

Stepsis revealed three coaches from Mark Farley’s staff are being retained — offensive line coach Rick Nelson, linebackers coach Riley Van Whye and safeties coach LaQuentin Black. He said a number of his former assistants at Drake will soon be announced to his staff at UNI and spoke to the brand of football they will all combine to bring to the UNI-Dome.

“Our style of ball really is going to revolve around who we have first, and then what can we do with them to make them successful?” Stepsis said. “We’re simple on the surface, but really complex as you watch us.”

Along with providing a look into his philosophy in all three phases of the game, he spoke about getting the remainder of the best in-state talent not taken by Iowa or Iowa State. He also talked plenty about identifying recruits who will want to spend their entire careers at UNI, despite being in an era where the transfer portal has all but undone program loyalty.

“I’m not a huge fan of the transfer portal,” Stepsis said. “This year’s a little different. We’re looking at our roster right now to see — did we lose any key pieces? Do we need to replace them with maybe some more veteran guys?

“At the end of the day I didn’t get into this profession for championships and wins. I got into this profession because of what it means for the 18- to 22-year-olds. We’re going to really hammer high school (recruiting) and we’re going to make sure we find our kind of guys.”