Iowa football’s coordinators met with the media at the Hansen Football Performance Center in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday to discuss the progress of the team through its spring practices. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker, special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi, and offensive coordinator Tim Lester each talked about their respective groups ahead of the Hawkeyes’ open spring practice scheduled for Saturday.
Here are some takeaways from the press conference:
Constant Competition
The quarterback position battle at Iowa has been one that is constantly being monitored over the course of the offseason. With the departure of transfer Mark Gronowski, the Hawkeyes are turning to two young and inexperienced quarterbacks. While both Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown have been in the system for over a year, the game action has been limited for both.
Lester said the competition makes it somewhat difficult to scheme his offense, but having the position battle is good for the offense and both quarterbacks.
“They’re both playing really well right now,” Lester said. “They’ve both improved in the areas that I’ve asked them to improve on. I always try to make very clear goals of what I want each one of them to do in the spring.”
Quarterback isn’t the only position battle offensive for Iowa, as the Hawkeyes’ offensive line loses three key starters from last season. Gennings Dunker, Beau Stephens, and Logan Jones are all likely to be NFL draft picks, and Iowa looks to find their replacements.
The Hawkeyes return two starters in offensive tackle Trevor Lauck and guard Kade Pieper. Also returning for the offensive line is Jack Dotzler, who competed for the left tackle spot with Lauck last season. With virtually three offensive line spots filled, Lester and his staff look for answers on the interior, especially at center.
“We’ve had probably six, seven, eight guys play center, but obviously Pieper moving was a big story,” Lester said. “He’s done a really good job, we’ve moved him back and forth. Cael Winter has really come along, he’s had a great spring. Mike Myslinski, he was doing really well, he got hurt. We got [Josh] Janowski back, just happy to have him out there in pads again.”
Lester said whoever plays guard is secondary to whoever plays center, meaning they’ll decide on the starting guard positions once the center spot is locked down.
The defensive side has seen lots of changes as well, with newly acquired talent preparing to prove themselves at the Big Ten level under Parker’s system as he enters his 15th year as defensive coordinator.
In the secondary, Iowa lost its two starting safeties from last season to graduation and the transfer portal. The Hawkeyes immediately filled those shoes with transfers Tyler Brown from James Madison and Anthony Hawkins from Villanova. Parker said he’s liked what he’s seen from those two so far, and hopes to see continued imrpovement into the fall.
“They’re coming from a different system, different coaching, different responsibilities. It’s like a different language to them. I think that Tyler Brown has done a really good job adapting to what’s going on,” Parker said. “I think you look at Hawkins. He’s a great athlete, and he has a chance to play multiple positions for us. The good thing about it when you have Lutmer there as an experienced guy that can help both of those guys outs, I think it really helps. I think the more and more we go, the better they’re going to get. I’ve seen great strides in both kids that are new kids in there, but it helps being with experience.”
New-look special teams
Polizzi made his media debut on Wednesday as the new special teams coordinator. Following the departure of LeVar Woods, the Hawkeyes looked internally to find his replacement. Polizzi, a defensive analyst at the time, ended up being the selection for head coach Kirk Ferentz.
Polizzi was a graduate assistant for Ferentz from 2012-2014, and returned to Iowa staff in 2022 after stops at Western Carolina, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Martin, and Tulsa. Polizzi said he had great experiences at those places, but something always felt off, and that Iowa City was where he needed to be.
“When my hand hits the door handle in this building, I absolutely love it,” Polizzi said. “And I can’t say that’s the same in a lot of other places. I can’t wait to be here, I can’t wait to work with these players, I can’t wait to be in this building. It’s just a great feeling.”
The Hawkeyes’ special teams unit in 2025 was one that doesn’t come to teams every year. With two-time Jet Award-winning kick returner Kaden Wetjen and record-breaking kicker Drew Stevens leaving the building, Polizzi turns to using the standard those players set as the baseline for his unit going forward.
“The standard is what the palyers and the previous coaches have set, and we cannot go backwards from that,” Polizzi said.
Iowa will hold its open spring practice on Saturday, April 25, at 10:45 a.m. at Kinnick Stadium. Gates will open for fans at 9:45 a.m., and admission is free.