Jay Niemann

Jay Niemann was named assistant defensive line coach and defensive recruiting coordinator in May 2019. Niemann joined the Hawkeye coaching staff after serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Rutgers University for three seasons (2016-18).

Niemann and the Hawkeyes have qualified for bowl games each of the seven years he has been on staff (2025 ReliaQuest, 2024 Music City, 2024 Citrus, 2022 Music City, 2022 Citrus, 2020 Music City, 2019 Holiday). Additionally, Iowa’s scoring defense has ranked in the top 13 nationally each of the past seven seasons, allowing fewer than 20 points per game.

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 win 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 Hawkeyes won nine games in 2025.

Three starting linemen earned postseason honors by the Big Ten in 2025: Aaron Graves (second team), Max Llewellyn (honorable mention) and Jonah Pace (honorable mention). Iowa’s defense ranked eighth in scoring defense (15.8), ninth in total defense (280.4), 10th in passing defense (172.7) and 17th in rushing defense (107.7) in 2025.

All four starting linemen earned honorable mention all-conference accolades in 2024: Yayha Black, Deontae Craig, Ethan Hurkett and Graves. Black and Craig also were recognized with honorable mention honors in 2023, along with Joe Evans (third team) and Logan Lee (honorable mention).

Black’s efforts were rewarded when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected the graduating senior in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Hawkeyes have earned a total of 37 conference victories between 2020-25, matching its highest six-year conference win total in program history (2019-24).

Iowa’s defense led the way in 2022, including posting just the second shutout in Iowa’s 35 bowl games. The defense led the nation in with seven defensive touchdowns, including two interception return scores in the bowl win. The Hawkeyes won eight games, including five of the last six. Iowa’s defense was in the top 12 in the nation in scoring defense (second), total defense (second), pass efficiency defense (fourth), passing yards per game (sixth), first down defense (10th), third down defense (11th) and rushing defense (12th).

Four linemen in 2022 earned All-Big Ten recognition. Lukas Van Ness and Evans garnered second team laurels, while Noah Shannon and Lee were honorable mention. Van Ness declared for the 2023 NFL Draft and was selected in the first round by the Green Bay Packers (13th overall selection).

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.

Iowa’s defense set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions in 2021. The defense ranked among national leaders in takeaways (30, third), defensive touchdowns scored (four, seventh), pass efficiency defense (110.5, sixth), turnover margin (0.8, 11th), rushing defense (114.4, 13th), scoring defense (19.2, 13th) and total defense (328.8, 18th).

Zach VanValkenburg led the play of Iowa’s defensive front, earning second-team all-league honors, while Shannon earned honorable mention recognition.

VanValkenburg signed a free agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders immediately following the 2022 NFL Draft. For three consecutive years (2019-21), the Hawkeyes had a defensive lineman selected in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft, while Van Ness added to that total in 2023.

Following back-to-back narrow losses to open the 2020 season, Iowa won its final six games, all in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes allowed just seven points in three of the six wins. The winning streak included road wins at Minnesota, Penn State and Illinois, and trophy game victories over Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes were ranked 15th in the nation in the final CFP ranking and Coaches Poll, and 16th by the AP. The Hawkeyes were selected to compete in the 2020 Music City Bowl, but that event was canceled.

Iowa’s defense in 2020 led the nation in allowing opponents 4.3 yards per play. The Hawkeyes ranked among the national leaders in several additional categories, including scoring (16.0, 7th), pass efficiency defense (110.1, 9th), rushing defense (107.6, 11th), total defense (313.8, 12th), red zone defense (.727, 12th) and interceptions (11, 19th).

Daviyon Nixon earned unanimous consensus All-America honors. He was named the Big Ten’s defensive lineman and defensive player of the year while earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. He was a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and Nagurski Award. Chauncey Golston also earned first-team all-league honors, while VanValkenburg earned second-team laurels. Golston was selected by Dallas in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, while Nixon was selected in the fifth round by Carolina. Jack Heflin signed a free agent contract (Green Bay) immediately following the draft.

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.

The 2019 Hawkeye defense ranked among the top 17 in the nation in scoring defense (5th, 14.0), first downs allowed (9th, 16.6), total defense (12th, 308.2), rushing defense (14th, 112.5), turnover margin (14th, 0.7) and pass efficiency defense (17th, 116.0). Iowa tied for second in the nation in interceptions (20) in 2018 after leading the nation in 2017 with 21.

A.J. Epenesa earned first and second-team All-America accolades while leading Iowa in sacks for the second straight season in 2019. Epenesa earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and was the defensive MVP in Iowa’s Holiday Bowl win over USC. Epenesa, who declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, had 2.5 sacks vs. USC as Iowa allowed the Trojans just 22 net rushing yards. Golston and Cedrick Lattimore earned honorable mention all-conference recognition.

Along with his three seasons at Rutgers, Niemann was the defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois from 2011-15. He coached linebackers at Rutgers and safeties at Northern Illinois and was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Hardin-Simmons from 2008-10.

Niemann’s 2018 defense at Rutgers ranked 19th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in pass defense, allowing opponents 186.7 yards per game. The Scarlet Knights ranked 45th in the nation in pass defense efficiency, with a rating of 123.29, and 46th in the nation in red-zone defense (.814).

Three Rutgers defenders earned postseason honors from the Big Ten. Safety Saquan Hampton and linebacker Trevor Morris earned honorable mention recognition, and cornerback Isaiah Wharton received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Two Scarlet Knights ranked among Big Ten leaders in tackles in 2018. Morris ranked No. 3, averaging 9.1 tackles per game, and linebacker Deonte Roberts ranked No. 11, averaging 7.9 tackles.

Niemann’s Scarlet Knight defense in 2017 was key in victories over Purdue (14-12), Illinois (35-24) and Maryland (31-24). Rutgers’ defense ranked No. 48 in the nation in fewest opponent first downs allowed (243) and No. 55 in fewest passing yards allowed (216.8). In Niemann’s first season at Rutgers the Scarlet Knights ranked No. 6 in the nation in red zone defense (.727) and 18th in passing yards allowed per game (186.5).

Niemann’s top defensive player at NIU was safety Jimmie Ward, who was selected by San Francisco in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The 30th overall pick, Ward led the Huskies in tackles in each of his final two seasons. In all, Niemann’s Huskie defense produced seven players who signed with NFL teams.

In 2015, NIU ranked eighth in the nation in turnovers gained (29) and fourth in interceptions (22). Cornerback Shawun Lurry led the FBS with nine interceptions and earned multiple All-America honors. The defensive unit posted 26 sacks with 15 different players involved in at least a half sack.

Six NIU defensive players earned All-MAC honors in 2014 as six opponents were held to 17 points or less. In 2012, the NIU defense held five opponents to nine points or less en route to a second straight MAC title and a historic berth in the Orange Bowl at the conclusion of the season. In the 2011 MAC Championship game, the NIU defense shut out Ohio in the second half en route to a 23-20 victory, the school’s first MAC football title in 28 years.

NIU won the Mid-American Conference West Division all five seasons (2011-15) Niemann was on the staff, capturing the MAC Championship three times (2011, ‘12 and ‘14). The Huskies played in a bowl game each of those five seasons. Northern Illinois won the 2011 GoDaddy Bowl and played in the Orange Bowl following the 2012 season.

During his tenure at Hardin-Simmons, Niemann helped turn a defense that ranked last in the nation prior to his arrival into the No. 2 unit in the American Southwest Conference in 2009. He helped guide Hardin-Simmons to the first round of the 2008 NCAA Division III playoffs.

Niemann served as the head coach at Simpson College from 2002-07. Niemann compiled a 32-29 record in his six seasons (2002-07) as head coach at Simpson. He led the Storm to the 2003 NCAA Division III Playoffs while also serving as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. He was named the 2003 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year.

Niemann was on the Northern Iowa coaching staff from 1997-2001. He was defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2000, and coached the secondary (1997, 2001), and linebackers (1998-2000). The Panthers advanced to the semifinals of the 2001 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Prior to his arrival at UNI, Niemann spent eight seasons at Drake University (1989-96), where he was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He was promoted to assistant head coach in 1995. In his final three seasons, the Bulldog defense ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, pass efficiency defense and total defense.

Niemann coached linebackers and special teams in 1985 at Western Washington while pursuing his master’s degree. Niemann accepted a graduate assistant position at Washington in 1986, working with the Husky linebackers and defensive backs while coaching under Washington legends Don James and Jim Lambright.

Niemann completed his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Iowa State in 1983 and received his master’s degree in educational administration from Western Washington in 1989. He played linebacker at Iowa State from 1979-82 after earning all-state honors as a prep at Avo-Ha Community High School in Avoca, Iowa.

Jay and his wife, Lou Ann, have two sons, Ben and Nick. Both Ben and Nick were involved in the Iowa football program. Ben was a letterman from 2014-17 and was a key defensive contributor for the Kansas City Chiefs for four seasons before playing for Arizona (2022), Denver (2023) and Detroit (2024). The Chiefs won the Super Bowl following the 2019 season and returned to the Super Bowl in 2020. Nick completed his senior season as a Hawkeye linebacker in 2020. Nick was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has been with the Chargers for four seasons.