CEDAR FALLS – University of Northern Iowa football head coach Todd Stepsis announced his on-field coaching staff on Monday. The group includes three returnees to UNI in LaQuentin Black, Rick Nelson and Riley Van Wyhe in addition to seven assistants who worked with Stepsis at Drake. Additional details about members of the football support staff will be released once finalized.
“I’m excited about the blend of experience, knowledge, and energy these coaches bring to UNI Football,” head coach Todd Stepsis said. “Rick Nelson is a guy who embodies all of those qualities. When we talk about developing young men into champions, Rick has done it here at UNI, he’s done it at Missouri State, and he’s done it as a high school head coach. Plus, he’s a proud UNI alum who played here and who has so many longstanding relationships that are going to be vital for us. Rick continues to be invested in elevating this program to where we all want it to be, so I’m extremely grateful he’s with us.
“We also needed coaches on the defensive side like LaQuentin Black and Riley Van Wyhe who know these players, understand this conference, and have recruited for UNI,” Stepsis continued. “I’m glad LaQuentin and Riley are back, as well. Our coaches who are new to UNI and the Cedar Valley are going to learn a great deal from them.
“I can’t wait for our team to really interact and engage with the coaches coming with me from Drake,” Stepsis concluded. “First of all, they’re really solid men. They know my expectations of how we want to treat our players day in and day out. They will pour their heart and soul into our players and help them develop as people. And yes, they know the game and our scheme and they understand our standards. Certainly, we all have something to prove at the University of Northern Iowa as a staff, but I know we’ve got the right coaches for the job.”
Al Smith – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Smith begins his initial season with the Panthers after spending the past six years as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Drake. He originally joined the Bulldogs as linebackers coach in 2014. Under his direction, Drake held six opponents under 20 points during the 2024 campaign after permitting a mere 12.1 ppg in conference play in 2023. Prior to his arrival at Drake, Smith helped found the football program at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. After beginning his tenure as defensive backs coach in 2008, he helped guide the squad to a pair of NCAA Division III playoff appearances in his final two campaigns as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach. Smith was a two-time team captain and all-conference performer during his playing career at Wingate University.
Nate Thompson – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Thompson arrives in Cedar Falls after serving as an offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Drake. He spent three years with the program after beginning his tenure with the Bulldogs in 2022. Thompson spent two seasons at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington where he coached the offensive line in 2020 and added run game coordinator duties to his responsibilities in 2021. In 2019 he coached the offensive line at prep powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Thompson played collegiately at Wheaton College and was a member of the 2019 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.
Michael McCourt – Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs
McCourt comes to UNI after spending the past two years as special teams coordinator/running backs coach at Drake. Under his tutelage, Drake’s special teams were stellar in 2024, finishing sixth overall in the final PFF rankings. The Bulldogs ranked fifth in the FCS in blocked kicks, second in field goals made per game and fifth in punt return coverage. Under his instruction, kicker Shane Dunning was a two-time all-conference performer and the 2023 Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Year. In total, he has coached 11 all-conference honorees, including first-teamers long snapper Brett Welsing in 2024 and return specialist Deyon Campbell in 2023. He also has previous experience at Stephen F. Austin and Pace University. McCourt worked as a coaching intern for the NFL’s Oakland Raiders in 2018 and 2019 before joining Findlay University as running backs coach. As a player, McCourt was a record-setting quarterback at Nichols College.
LaQuentin Black – Cornerbacks
Black enters his second season with the Panthers after helping DB JJ Dervil earn a spot on the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team in 2024, leading UNI with five pass breakups. Dervil also racked up 63 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss a year ago. Black arrived at UNI after two seasons as co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Hutchinson Community College where he mentored five all-conference performers, the nation’s JUCO interception leader, and two All-American performers. He spent the 2021 season at Troy University following four years as associate head coach, pass game coordinator, and defensive backs coach at Central Methodist University. He concluded his playing career at Missouri Valley College where he earned All-American honors after leading all NAIA players with a 35.9-yard kickoff return average in 2012.
Sean Hupke – Safeties
Hupke joins the Panthers following a two-year stint as a defensive assistant/safeties coach at Drake where the Bulldogs won back-to-back Pioneer Football League titles. He spent the 2022 season at South Dakota State as a defensive and special teams assistant on a Jackrabbits squad which compiled a 14-1 record en route to the FCS National Championship. SDSU’s only loss that season was a 7-3 setback at Iowa. Hupke previously served as a student assistant at Washington State in 2020-21 where he worked with the wide receivers for the Cougars. He played collegiately as a safety for Diablo Valley College from 2017-19.
Jack Johnson – Wide Receivers
Johnson is another member of Stepsis’ staff from Drake who is joining him at UNI. Johnson coached tight ends and fullbacks for the Bulldogs in 2024 as the program captured its second consecutive Pioneer Football League championship. Johnson joined the program as a special teams and offensive analyst in 2023. A two-time All-Academic Big Ten selection at the University of Iowa, Johnson served as a walk-on wide receiver for the Hawkeyes. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Iowa.
Rick Nelson – Offensive Line
Nelson continues his second stint as an assistant coach at his alma mater after rejoining the Panthers in 2023. During his initial tenure with UNI from 2000-2015, he coached 22 FCS All-America selections, 29 all-conference picks, and a trio of NFL offensive linemen in Brandon Keith, Austin Howard and Chad Rinehart. Nelson was also part of a UNI coaching staff that guided the Panthers to the 2005 National Championship Game, eight FCS playoff appearances, and an undefeated regular season in 2007. Prior to returning to UNI, he served eight seasons as head coach at Ankeny High School where his squad captured the Iowa Class 4A state title in 2020 and were Class 4A runners-up in 2021. The Boone, Iowa native also enjoyed an 11-year coaching stint at Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State) helping the Bears set 35 offensive records. Six of his players earned All-America honors, 20 were recognized with All-Gateway Conference accolades, while two of his players were named to the Gateway Conference All-Decade Team of the 1990s. His top pupil in Springfield was 11-year NFL veteran Jason Whittle. Nelson is a 1984 UNI alum.
Christian Nussbaum – Defensive Line
Nussbaum joins the UNI staff after a two-year stint at Drake where he mentored defensive lineman Finn Claypool, who was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award the past two seasons. Claypool was a unanimous first-team All-PFL selection in 2024 and concluded the season with 17.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and 10 QB hurries. Nussbaum began his tenure with the Bulldogs as assistant defensive line coach in 2022. The Naperville, Illinois native played two seasons at Wheaton College and one year at Aurora College before graduating from the University of Illinois. Nussbaum served as a volunteer assistant football coach at Mahomet-Seymour High School in Illinois from 2019-21.
Jax Ostroski – Assistant Offensive Line
Ostroski enters his first season coaching in the UNI-Dome after working with the offensive line as a graduate assistant at Eastern Illinois in 2024. Ostroski was the only offensive GA at Eastern Illinois, serving as a key resource for offensive line coach/run game coordinator John Cannova. Ostroki coached tight ends and assisted with the offensive line for Stepsis at Drake in 2022-23. A Presidential Scholarship recipient at Drake, he served as a tight end during his four seasons as a player for the Bulldogs.
Riley Van Wyhe – Defensive Assistant/Special Teams Assistant
Van Wyhe begins his third season on the UNI staff and will work as a defensive assistant/special teams assistant for the Panthers in 2024 after coaching linebackers the past two seasons. The Rock Rapids, Iowa native was a member of UNI’s 2019 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs and ranked second on the squad with 61 tackles during the Spring 2021 campaign. During the 2021 season, Van Wyhe started all 12 games, finishing the year with 77 tackles. He earned MVFC Defensive Player of the Week accolades after a 14-tackle, 1.0-sack performance vs. Western Illinois. A National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society selection, the UNI grad also was recognized on the MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Honor Roll.
2025 UNI FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
Todd Stepsis – Head Coach
Al Smith – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Nate Thompson – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Michael McCourt – Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs
LaQuentin Black – Cornerbacks
Sean Hupke – Safeties
Jack Johnson – Wide Receivers
Rick Nelson – Offensive Line
Christian Nussbaum – Defensive Line
Jax Ostroski – Assistant Offensive Line
Riley Van Wyhe – Defensive Assistant/Special Teams Assistant
Stepsis also announced the addition of 12 early signees. Of the 12 signees, seven are from the state of Iowa. In total, this group is composed of players from five different states and features a trio of quarterbacks.
“I greatly appreciate these young men and their families remaining loyal to the University of Northern Iowa,” head coach Todd Stepsis said. “When there is a coaching transition, staying true to your original decision isn’t always easy. We couldn’t be more excited to officially welcome this group to UNI Football, and we will hopefully add many more good players to our team in the weeks to come. I’m very enthused about the talent of these initial signees. I can’t wait to get them on campus so they can learn more about our culture as they take the next step in their academic and athletic careers.
“I had the opportunity to meet our returning players Tuesday night at the UNI-Dome,” Stepsis continued. “What an impressive group of guys! The level of enthusiasm and excitement in that meeting room was very tangible and very real. Whether they view the arrival of a new head coach as a fresh start or whether it’s a chance to prove that they’re better than their record indicated last season, they are ready to get to work.
“And really that’s going to be part of our mantra, that we have to get better individually and collectively every day,” Stepsis concluded. “There’s a very high standard for UNI Football and we all need to embrace the effort and commitment it’s going to take to get back there. I appreciate the warm welcome that I’ve already received, and I’m looking forward to meeting more members of the UNI community as we put the rest of our staff and team together. Go Panthers!”
New additions to the Panthers roster include:
Connor Best, OL, 6-3, 280, Cedar Falls HS (Iowa)
Kaleb Diers. QB, 6-6, 220, Marion HS (Iowa)
Colby Eskildsen, OL, 6-6, 255, Northwood-Kensett HS (Iowa)
Elijah Hoyt, DB, 6-0, 188, Urbandale HS (Iowa)
Gabe Meaney, OL, 6-6, 235, Janesville HS (Iowa)
Jayce Nixon, QB, 6-0, 200, Venice HS (Fla.)
Kaz Rebarcak, QB, 6-3, 205, Davenport North HS (Iowa)
Kailer Smith, TE, 6-6, 240, Cedar Falls HS (Iowa)
Theo Thomas, DL, 6-4, 260, Totino-Grace HS (Minn.)
AJ Vaughn, DB, 6-0, 180, Macarthur HS (Okla.)
Kaiser Williams, DB, 6-4, 180, Naperville North HS (Ill.)
Josiah Young, DB, 6-3, 175, Totino-Grace HS (Minn.)
OL CONNOR BEST
A hometown product Connor Best comes to UNI from Cedar Falls High School where he competed on the football and track and field teams. At Cedar Falls, Best was a four-time Academic All-Conference athlete and a First Team All-Conference and All-District Honorable Mention offensive lineman.
QB KALEB DIERS
An in-state quarterback prospect, Kaleb Diers joins the Panthers from Marion High School. At Marion, Diers competed in football, basketball, as well as track and field. He was named Academic All-Conference all four years of high school. Diers received the Varsity football award his sophomore year. During his junior season his accolades included Second-Team All-Metro, Second-Team All-District, as well as Academic All-District on the track and football field. In addition he earned a Varsity Award for track and field and basketball. He was an All-Metro Honorable Mention honoree in the discus. Diers earned Academic All-District honors as a senior.
OL COLBY ESKILDSEN
Another in a long line of in-state offensive linemen for the Panthers, Colby Eskildsen arrives at UNI from Northwood-Kensett High School. Eskliden competed in basketball and football, as well as track and field for the Vikings. He was also a baseball substate qualifier, an all-conference athlete in the State Track Alt. Shuttle Hurdle. Eskliden earned honorable mention honors in basketball as freshman year. He was named to the All-District Honorable Mention team as a quarterback his sophomore year while also being named to the all-conference second team in basketball that season. As a junior he was an Academic All-District First-Team selection, while garnering All-District Second Team honors as a tight end. On the basketball court he was an all-conference first-team selection and was named the conference Player of the Year, while earning All-Substate Honors on the basketball court. Eskildsen was named to the Academic All-District First Team his senior year.
DB ELIJAH HOYT
A defensive back out of Urbandale, Iowa, Elijah Hoyt comes to UNI from Urbandale High School where he competed in football and track and field. At Urbandale, Hoyt was a four-year Academic All-Conference athlete as well as a four-year Varsity Football Letterman and three-year Varsity Track Letterman. A two-year team captain, Hoyt was named to the All-State Honorable Mention team his sophomore year, the All-Conference First Team and All-State Second Team his junior year, and the All-Conference and All-State First Teams his senior year.
OL GABE MEANEY
Meaney played tight end/offensive lineman on his eight-man prep squad at Janesville High School. Meaney arrives after competing in football, baseball and basketball, as well as track and field in high school. Academically, he was a four-year honor roll and a two-time Academic All-District student. A three-time all-conference pick on the baseball team and two-time All-District athlete on the football team, Meaney was a three-time state participant in football, a two-time District runner-up in basketball and a three-time conference champion in baseball.
QB JAYCE NIXON
The only Floridian in this group of signees, QB Jayce Nixon will play collegiately in the UNI-Dome after prepping at Venice High School. Nixon led Florida in passing yards as a sophomore on a team that made it to the second round of playoffs and the Final Four in 2023. He eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards and 100 career touchdowns during his senior year.
QB KAZ REBARCAK
This Quad Cities quarterback prospect Kaz Rebarcak joins the Panthers from Davenport North High School. He was named the 2023 District Player of the Year, as well as First-Team All-District and First-Team All-Metro. Rebarcak threw for 2,114 yards and 17 touchdowns while running for seven touchdowns as a senior season. He also posted a single-game school record with a 400-yard passing performance.
TE KAILER SMITH
A tight end out of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Kailer Smith comes to UNI from Cedar Falls High School where he competed in football and basketball. At Cedar Falls, Smith was a two-time Academic All-Conference athlete and was named First Team All-Conference and Second-Team All-District as a team captain his senior season. Smith was a part of three playoff teams and made two quarter final appearances with the Tigers.
DL THEO THOMAS
Theo Thomas comes to UNI from Totino-Grace High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At Totino-Grace, Thomas competed in both football and basketball where he was a part of a 4A State Runner-Up team his senior year.
DB AJ VAUGHN
Vaughn comes to Cedar Falls from Lawton, Oklahoma, where he competed in football and basketball at Macarthur High School. A three-year honor roll student, Vaughn was a team captain his senior year, a three-time city champion, a state semifinalist and a district champion for the Highlanders.
DB KAISER WILLIAMS
A defensive back out of Chicago, Illinois, Kaiser Williams comes to UNI from Naperville North High School where he competed in football and track and field. At Naperville North, Williams was a three-year Varsity Letterman and earned the Red Grange All-County Award in 2024. Williams also medaled in State Track and Field.
DB JOSIAH YOUNG
A defensive back out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Josiah Young comes to UNI from Totino-Grace High School. At Totino Grace, Young was a four-year Varsity athlete on the football team which included All-State honors from sophomore to senior year. Young was named the no. 1 defensive back in the state of Minnesota his junior season. Made the Prep Bowl.