Wallace’s job No. 1 is recruiting

IOWA CITY - Yes, Seth Wallace was hired at the University of Iowa to coach football. He knows he will be doing something with the defense. But he definitely knows the real reason he was hired.

The first part of his title is 'recruiting coordinator.”

'I know why I was hired,” Wallace said in an interview Wednesday. 'Recruiting is first and foremost ... I've spent the majority of my time on the recruiting aspect for right now.”

Major-college football recruiting is perhaps the most dynamic and competitive endeavor on the planet. When the NCAA talked about relaxing certain rules a few years ago, schools supercharged their efforts. The decision process for prospects sped up. There's been no looking back.

Iowa has been the only Big Ten school operating without a formal player personnel director. That's Wallace's charge now. He sized up where the Hawkeyes are keeping pace and where their recruiting efforts need a push.

'You've all seen what's been out there from a social media standpoint,” Wallace said of Iowa's recruiting communications. 'We are, in my opinion, staying ahead of the curve or at least keeping up with the curve from an idea standpoint, in regards to recruiting.”

Administrative assistant Max Allen, in his second year at Iowa, has helped shape some of the communications (for example, Iowa-centric magazine covers with recruit's pictures on the front).

Wallace said Iowa doesn't have the number of bodies in personnel as a lot of schools in the country. Iowa is working on that. The school posted the full-time recruiting assistant positions on July 1. According to the advertisement, the positions will be 'responsible for creating effective communication methods used in recruiting via electronic social, print, and video media, assisting with electronic recruiting database, and collaborate with Recruiting Coordinator regarding all permissible on-campus recruiting events.”

'From a manpower standpoint, we're trying to get where the curve is,” Wallace said. 'I think these two hires are needed among this program. They're going to help us move forward. But at the end of the day, we're not in the boat some programs are in, where you've got 15 or 20 people off the field working on recruiting.”

This is Wallace's second stint at Iowa. He served as a graduate assistant under head coach Kirk Ferentz from 2005 to 2008. He's also from Grinnell and graduated from Coe College, so he knows where Iowa shops for recruits and the kind of recruits Iowa generally attracts.

This will shape his efforts, as you'd expect.

Iowa is different. I wouldn't say it's hard [to recruit for Iowa],” he said. 'You've got to know where to put your focus. You've got to know where to spend your time from a recruiting standpoint, not only individually, but also as a staff.

'I think everyone has to recognize that Iowa is different. It attracts a different kind of individual. You don't want to be in an area spinning your wheels, trying to grab a hold of someone when the percentages aren't in your favor.”

Wallace spent five seasons as a defensive coach at Valdosta (Ga.) State. He knows the southeast. Iowa knows the southeast. The Southeast Conference really knows the southeast. Wallace's approach won't be to charge into that talent-rich corner of the college football world, but that doesn't mean Iowa is ignoring it.

Linebackers coach LeVar Woods actively recruits Atlanta. Iowa does have a commitment from Leesburg (Fla.) wide receiver Adrian Falconer.

'We're trying to make some inroads there,” he said. 'There are a bunch of players down there. Iowa's different, they have to recognize Iowa is different. I can assure you things are moving forward not only recruiting-wise, but the facility over there [Iowa's new football building slated to open late this summer], that changes some things.

'At the end of the day, we've got to get individuals on campus. They've got to be able to see it. They've got to be able to recognize what this place is and what we stand for. Whether that be in the southeast or the northeast, getting individuals to Iowa City and the University of Iowa, that's a big deal.”

Later in the conversation, Wallace used the word 'battle” when describing the task of major-college football recruiting.

'Things are constantly changing,” Wallace said. 'It's a world where you're trying to attract someone who's between the ages of 18 and 17 and sometimes 16 and all the way down to 15 in some cases. You're constantly trying to find the edge. Going back to the two positions we're advertising for, that's just helping us stay there.”

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