Shane Viilo

Shane Viilo is in his 12th year with the Iowa football program and his sixth as an analyst. Viilo was elevated to senior analyst/assistant linebackers in 2026. He previously served as a graduate assistant coach for three seasons (2018-20) after serving as a student assistant from 2015-17. He worked with the Hawkeye linebackers from 2015-19 and the defensive backs in 2020.

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

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

Iowa won 23 combined games over the last three seasons, capturing the Big Ten West Division title in 2023 and winning the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl with a 34-27 triumph over No. 14 Vanderbilt. Iowa has finished in the final AP Top 25 in six of the last eight seasons, including a No. 17 ranking in 2025.

The Hawkeye defense finished 2025 ranked among the top 20 nationally in several key defensive categories: fifth in first down defense (204), eighth in scoring defense (15.6 points per game), ninth in total defense (280.4 yards per game), 10th in passing defense (172.7 yards per game), and 17th in rushing defense (107.7 yards per game).

Viilo has worked with two unanimous consensus All-Americans over the past three seasons: defensive back Cooper DeJean and linebacker Jay Higgins. In 2024, Higgins was recognized as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and was named 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 Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Iowa’s streak of 13 consecutive bowl invitations is the longest in school history, and its streak of 13 straight winning seasons ranks fifth among power conferences. The Hawkeyes earned 36 conference victories between 2020 and 2025.

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

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

The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, capturing 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 ranked No. 23 in the final AP Poll.

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

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

The Hawkeyes concluded 2019 with a 10-3 record following a 49-24 rout of No. 22 USC in the Holiday Bowl. The team’s three losses were all against ranked opponents by a combined 14 points. Iowa finished 4-1 in trophy games for the third consecutive 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 on a three-game winning streak. Iowa’s four losses came by a combined 23 points, with all decided in the final minutes. The Hawkeyes tied for second in the Big Ten West Division.

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

Defensive end A.J. Epenesa and defensive back Amani Hooker earned second-team All-America honors 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 2015 Big Ten Championship Game and 2016 Rose Bowl Game, finishing the season in the top 10 of the final national rankings.

Jewell led the Big Ten in tackles for the second time in three seasons in 2017. He earned unanimous consensus All-America accolades and was named the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year. Jewell won the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Jack Lambert Trophy, and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

Viilo earned his bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management with a concentration in coaching and sport instruction from the University of Iowa in 2016 after attending Central Michigan University from 2012-15. He earned his master’s degree in sport and recreation management from Iowa in December 2020.

A native of Drummond Island, Michigan, Viilo attended DeTour High School in DeTour Village, Michigan. He and his wife, Alyssa, reside in Iowa City.