Shane Viilo

Shane Viilo is in his 12th year with the University of Iowa football program, and his sixth as a football analyst. Viilo served as a graduate assistant coach for three seasons (2018-20) after serving as a student assistant from 2015-17. He worked with the Iowa linebackers (2015-19) and defensive backs (2020).

Iowa’s defense consistently ranks among the best in the country, ranking in the top 20 in scoring defense each of the last 11 seasons. The Hawkeyes have allowed fewer than 20 points per game the last 10 seasons, the longest active streak in the country; no other FBS program has an active streak longer than four years.

Iowa has held 12 teams without a touchdown since the start of the 2022 season. The unit allowed one touchdown or less in seven games in 2025 and in 29 of the last 53 contests.

Iowa won 27 combined contests the last three seasons, including capturing the Big Ten West Division in 2023 and winning the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl with a 34-27 triumph over No. 14 Vanderbilt. Iowa has been ranked in the final AP Top 25 six of the last eight seasons, including ranking No. 17 in 2025.

The Hawkeye defense finished 2025 ranking in the top 20 nationally in defensive metrics. The Hawkeyes were fifth in first down defense (204), eighth in scoring (15.6), ninth in total (280.4), 10th in passing defense (172.7) and 17th in rushing defense (107.7).

Viilo worked with a pair of unanimous consensus All-Americans two of the last three seasons: DB Cooper DeJean and LB Jay Higgins. In 2024, Higgins was recognized as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and was a semifinalist for the Lombardi, Butkus and Lott IMPACT awards. DeJean was honored as the 2023 Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy.

Iowa’s streak of 13 straight bowl invitations is the longest in school history and its streak of 13 straight winning seasons ranks fifth best among power conferences. The Hawkeyes have earned 37 conference victories between 2020-25, matching its highest six-year conference win total in program history (2019-24).

During his 11-year tenure, Iowa has appeared in high-level bowl games each season, including the Rose, Citrus (twice), Outback/ReliaQuest (three times), Music City (three times), Holiday and Pinstripe.

Iowa won eight contests in 2022, concluding the season with a 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl and wins in five of its final six games.

The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, winning the Big Ten West Division title and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Citrus Bowl and was ranked 23rd in the final national ranking.

Following back-to-back narrow losses to open the 2020 season, Iowa won its final six games, all in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes were ranked 15th in the final CFP rankings and Coaches Poll and 16th by the AP.

Iowa won 47 games from 2015-19, the highest total in school history over any five-year period, and a total that ranked ninth nationally. Iowa won its final four games in 2019 and ranked 15th in the final AP and Coaches polls.

The Hawkeyes concluded 2019 with a 10-3 record following a 49-24 rout over No. 22 USC in the Holiday Bowl. The three losses were all to ranked opponents by a combined 14 points. Iowa was 4-1 in trophy games for the third straight season.

Iowa completed 2018 with nine wins and a final AP ranking of No. 25. The Hawkeyes earned a 27-22 Outback Bowl win over No. 18 Mississippi State to close the season with three straight wins. The four losses came by a total of 23 points and all were decided in the final minutes of play. Iowa tied for second in the Big Ten West Division.

Iowa tied for second in the nation in interceptions (20) in 2018 after leading the nation in 2017 with 21, including matching a school record with four pick-sixes. Iowa’s 53 combined thefts between 2016-18 led the nation. DB Josh Jackson led the nation individually with eight interceptions in 2017 to match Iowa’s single-season record. Jackson and LB Josey Jewell each earned unanimous consensus All-America honors. Jackson ranked second in interception return yards and return touchdowns, and tied Iowa’s single-game record with three interceptions in a 55-24 win over third-ranked Ohio State in 2017. 

DE A.J. Epenesa and DB Amani Hooker were second-team All-American honorees in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Hawkeyes posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record in 2015, winning the Big Ten West Division. Iowa participated in the 2016 Rose Bowl Game and the 2015 Big Ten Championship and ended the season in the top 10 in the final national rankings.

Jewell led the Big Ten in tackles for the second time in three seasons. He earned unanimous consensus All-America accolades and was named the Big Ten linebacker and defensive Player of the Year. Jewell earned the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Jack Lambert Trophy, and was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy.

Viilo earned his bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management from Iowa in 2016, with a coaching and sport instruction concentration. He also attended Central Michigan University (2012-15). Viilo earned his master’s degree in sports and recreation management in December 2020.

Viilo was born Feb. 6, 1994. He is a native of Drummond Island, Michigan, and attended DeTour High School in DeTour Village, Michigan. His wife’s name is Alyssa.