Campbell announced today that Rasheed will join his Cyclone staff in a similar role.
“Eli and I have been together for seven years and he has set the tone of not only going out and recruiting great players, but also developing those young men,” Campbell said. “He is one of the best defensive line coaches I have been around.”
Rasheed’s impact on Toledo’s front four during his seven years at the school cannot be underscored. Annually, the Rockets ranked among the elite in the MAC in rushing defense and scoring defense.
In all, the Rockets qualified to four bowl games and registered four nine-win seasons in Rasheed’s seven seasons at the school.
“I am really excited to be here at Iowa State,” Rasheed said. “Obviously, I am working for a good man in Matt Campbell. He’s a great coach and we’ve had seven years together. Being around this place, it’s got a great feel to it. It’s got a vibe that’s ready to happen. I’m fired up and ready to go.”
In 2015, the Rockets led the MAC in scoring defense (21.1) and ranked second in the league in rushing defense (115.5) in the regular season. UT beat two power five teams (Arkansas, Iowa State) and was ranked in the nation’s top-25 throughout the majority of the season.
One of Rasheed’s top players was senior Orion Jones, who was sixth in the MAC in sacks (6.0) and eighth in the league in TFL (11.5) en route to first-team All-MAC accolades. End Trent Voss was a third-team All-MAC pick after recording 58 tackles, 9.5 TFL and two fumble recoveries.
The 2014 Rocket line may have been the best under Rasheed. A pair of tackles, Jones and sophomore Treyvon Hester, each earned All-MAC honors. Voss finished second in the MAC with 15.0 tackles for loss, and earned defensive MVP honors in the GoDaddy Bowl when he racked up 4.0 TFL and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery on the first play from scrimmage.
As a team, the Rockets led the MAC and ranked 14th in the nation in rushing defense in 2014, allowing just 116.2 yards per game. It was the fewest rushing yards allowed by a Toledo defense in 13 years. Rocket opponents gained just 3.5 yards per carry, also the lowest since 2001.
In 2013, the Rockets ranked second in the MAC and 20th in the country with 2.8 sacks per game. Senior defensive end Jayrone Elliott led the way with nine sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss. Elliott, now with the Green Bay Packers, made first-team All-MAC, while freshman defensive tackle Treyvon Hester made third-team all-league.
In 2012, Rasheed was faced with the challenge of losing both of his starting defensive ends to injury. Nevertheless, the line held together, and Toledo finished with a 9-4 record and a berth into the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Rasheed came to Toledo after spending six seasons as the defensive tackles coach at Florida Atlantic. Prior to that, he enjoyed a successful high school coaching career as an assistant at Venice (FL) High School and head coach at Booker (FL) High School.
Rasheed grew up in Indianapolis and played defensive line at Indiana University from 1991-95, participating in bowl games in 1991 and 1993. He began his coaching career at Venice (FL) High School, working as an assistant from 1996-2000 and again in 2002. He helped the Indians capture the Florida 5A state, regional and district championships in 2000 and 2002. Venice also captured the 1999 District Championship. In between his stints at Venice, Rasheed was the head coach at Booker (FL) High School, leading the Tornadoes to a 6-5 record in 2001.
Rasheed joined Florida Atlantic’s staff in the 2003 season, helping the Owls to an 11-3 mark, a No. 13 ranking and a semifinals appearance in the I-AA playoffs. The Owls moved to I-A status in 2006, and Rasheed helped mold a defensive line that keyed FAU’s back-to-back bowl victories in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Owls went 8-5 and defeated Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl, 44-27. In 2008, FAU posted a 7-6 record and posted a 24-21 win over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl.
Rasheed has coached two NFL players and three defensive linemen who later played in the Canadian Football League.
Rasheed and his wife, Caprice, have five children: Shanita, Dezmen, a former Wisconsin safety who was drafted in the third round by Atlanta in 2014, Darius, Osha and Tyra.
Coaching Experience
2016 Iowa State – Defensive Line
2009-15 Toledo – Defensive Line
2004-08 Florida Atlantic – Defensive Tackles
2002-03 Venice (FL) High School – Assistant Coach
2001 Booker (FL) High School – Head Coach
1996-2000 Venice (FL) High School – Defensive Line
