University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Photo by: Allyson Schwab
UNI football head coach Todd Stepsis announces on-field coaching staff for the 2025 season
12/16/2024 10:52:00 AM | Football
UNI football head coach Todd Stepsis announces on-field coaching staff for the 2025 season
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – 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."
NEW UNI FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
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
UNI Athletics action can be followed all year long on social media on Facebook (UNI Athletics), X (@UNIAthletics) and on Instagram (@uniathletics). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
"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."
NEW UNI FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
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
UNI Athletics action can be followed all year long on social media on Facebook (UNI Athletics), X (@UNIAthletics) and on Instagram (@uniathletics). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
PST: Todd Stepsis - Sept. 26, 2025 (Part 1 of 3)
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PST: Todd Stepsis - Sept. 26, 2025 (Part 2 of 3)
Friday, September 26
PST: Todd Stepsis - Sept. 26, 2025 (Part 3 of 3)
Friday, September 26
PST: Owen Ostroski (2025)
Friday, September 26