The 2023 salaries for Iowa’s football assistant coaches were revealed in an article by Chad Leistikow and Steve Berkowitz for Hawk Central. It reveals two absolute bargains for the program.
Defensive coordinator Phil Parker headlines the group with the highest salary of $1.4 million. That figure is up from the $1.3 million Parker earned last year. It’s a 7.9% salary increase, which is about average amongst the coaching staff. He is the only Iowa coach making over a $1 million besides head football coach Kirk Ferentz of course.
It sounds weird to say that the highest-paid assistant coach, one that’s now making $1.4 million is at a bargain price, but it’s true for Parker. Phil Parker has to be one of the front runners for the best defensive coordinator in college football, and certainly won’t receive many arguments against him as the best defensive backs coach in the nation.
Under Parker’s direction, the Hawkeyes led the country in yards surrendered per play and ranked second nationally in both total defense and scoring defense in 2022.
Parker is one of the best in the nation in developing recruits into NFL players, while routinely fielding a stellar defense at Iowa. Last year his incredible defense helped carry a fledgling offense to an 8-5 record, but they certainly weren’t alone in that fight.
While so much attention and praise is given to Iowa’s defense, LeVar Woods deserves all the credit in the world for what he’s done with Iowa’s special teams. The Hawkeyes ranked among the top three in the Big Ten in punt and kickoff returns as well as punt and kickoff return defense. Iowa was third in the Big Ten and 15th nationally in net punting, while ranking second in the conference and 19th in the nation with three blocked kicks.
Punter Tory Taylor was named first-team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America, Pro Football Focus and Phil Steele. Taylor also garnered first-team All-Big Ten honors. The Aussie averaged 45.4 yards per punt and saw 38 downed inside opponents’ 20-yard lines.
Meanwhile, freshman kicker Drew Stevens earned freshman All-America recognition from College Football News. The North Augusta, S.C., product connected on 16-of-18 field goal tries and all 24 of his PATs.
In addition to his work with Iowa’s specialists, Woods is also one of the Hawkeyes’ best recruiters. Players on the team, and those who were specifically brought in by Woods, have nothing but rave reviews about the special teams coordinator.
Woods is a guy many are envisioning as a future head coach, maybe even at Iowa after Kirk Ferentz eventually retires. At $700,000, he is one of the biggest bargains in the nation. His impact on the program is truly irreplaceable.
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