Iowa finishes assistant coach shopping

IOWA CITY — Maybe it's kind of a "if you can't beat them, hire their offensive coordinator." You know, that old saying.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz saw what North Dakota State's rush attack was capable of last fall when the Bison, the nation's top FCS program, upset the Hawkeyes, 23-21, at Kinnick Stadium. It was very much the score — Iowa's first loss in 14 games to an FCS opponent — but it also was the way NDSU handled the Hawkeyes.

The Bison rushed for 239 yards and held Iowa to 34. First downs were 21-12. The most telling number was time of possession, an avalanche in favor of the Bison — 36:40 to 23:30.

That probably didn't hurt Tim Polasek's resume. He was the offensive coordinator who ran the show for NDSU against the Hawkeyes last fall. It certainly made an impression on Ferentz.

Iowa announced Tuesday it has hired Polasek, a 37-year-old Wisconsinite who set records as quarterback during his playing days at Concordia University (Mequon, Wis.), as offensive line coach.

Iowa also moved to fill its wide receiver coach vacancy, hiring Northern Illinois wide receivers and special teams coach Kelton Copeland, a Miami, Fla., native whose first name coaching job was at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College (2007-2010).

There will be a news conference with the new hires and Ferentz on Thursday.

'We are excited to add two extremely successful individuals who have worked in highly competitive programs to our staff,' Ferentz said in a statement. 'Tim has been involved in programs that have won at a very high level, earning a reputation as a great teacher, and as an individual who has established great relationships with his co-workers and players.'

Maybe this was Ferentz kind of gushing? The word 'vibrant' was, at the very least, an interesting adjective.

'Kelton, much like Tim, has been an assistant coach who has played a key role in the success of the programs he has been involved with,' Ferentz's statement continued. 'His players and special teams units have posted great accomplishments, and he is very well respected as an up-and-coming assistant coach. Both Tim and Kelton add vibrant personalities to our staff. We expect both will be a great fit for our entire program, the university, and the community.'

Polasek and Copeland actually intersected for a season at Northern Illinois. In 2013, Copeland was the Huskies' running backs coach and Polasek was tight ends and fullbacks coach.

Fullbacks coach? Polasek seems to have been groomed for something under Ferentz and at Iowa.

In his three seasons as offensive coordinator, Polasek helped guide the Bison to two national titles and a semifinal finish in 2016. During the two title runs, he called plays for future NFL first-round quarterback Carson Wentz.

Polasek is a regional (Wisconsin roots, North Dakota State success and Northern Illinois ties) and philosophical fit.

Going into their game with NDSU last fall, every Hawkeye defender said they knew they were in for a physical battle. Some Hawkeyes compared NDSU's scheme and philosophy to Wisconsin.

Coming out of the game, Iowa's defense was left with a tough pill to swallow.

'They like to run it down your throat,' middle linebacker Josey Jewell said. 'We didn't come up today and fill the holes like we need to. [Lapses] were everywhere. Communication issues and fit issues.'

NDSU, which posted a 12-2 mark in 2016 while falling in the FCS semifinals to eventual national champion James Madison, averaged 240.9 rushing yards and 407.9 yards total offense per game.

And there's this from Polasek himself in a 'Meet the NDSU coaching staff' video: 'The first thing I'm looking for is looking at the kid's body and shaking his hand and just seeing him. To me, in that short, five-, 10-minute situation, I can look at a kid's body and say he can or cannot get big enough. He doesn't look like a North Dakota State kid. Anybody who's going to dig in and compete and try to prove the world wrong, we want him on our side.'

Copeland served as wide receivers coach and specials teams coordinator for the Huskies last season after coaching running backs from 2013-15. Copeland excelled. The Huskies had first-team all-Mid-American Conference selections at wide receiver (Kenny Golladay, who finished with 1,156 receiving yards) and as return specialist (Aregeros Turner, who led the MAC with 25.8 yards a kick return). The Huskies also led the MAC in kickoff returns and kickoff coverage.

Copeland, a three-year captain and record-setting quarterback at Emporia (Kan.) State in 1999-02, also revealed a little of his personality in an 'NIU coaches spotlight' video. He had a few very 'Ferentz' and very 'Iowa' answers.

'Personally, my goal is simple and that's to be the best coach that I can be, get better every day,' Copeland said. 'I know that sounds cliche, but that's what I believe in. ... That's the No. 1 goal, get better. Outside of that, I want to do anything I can do to make this program better, whether it's coaching the running backs or being a recruiter, working in the community, whatever I need to do to make the Huskies football program better, that's my goal.'

Ferentz's staff has been in a state of jumble since offensive coordinator Greg Davis announced his retirement in early January. On Jan. 9, offensive line coach Brian Ferentz was promoted to the offensive coordinator position. On Feb. 3, Iowa announced that Ken O'Keefe, who served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Iowa from 1999-2011, had been named quarterbacks coach.

Polasek and Copeland bring Iowa's staff to a full nine members. The NCAA will vote on allowing a 10th staffer in April. That is expected to pass.

The last open position on offense is running backs, a position that could go to Brian Ferentz. On defense, Phil Parker has handled coordinator and secondary duties. So, position No. 10 likely goes to one of those positions.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com