The Iowa Hawkeyes lost long-time special teams coordinator LeVar Woods this offseason to the Michigan State Spartans, and with that, there were big shoes to fill. Iowa, always one of the best and most reliable special teams units in the country, has replenished that position with a new hire.
As reported by Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports, the Iowa Hawkeyes are expected to name Chris Polizzi as the special teams coordinator, continuing the continuity within the staff. Polizzi spent the 2025 season with Iowa as a defensive analyst, having previously spent time at several other programs.
His familiarity with the Hawkeyes dates back to as early as 2012, when he served as a graduate assistant until 2014.
Chris Polizzi’s ties to Iowa date back to 2003 at Lake Forest College, where he was a cornerback who played for Seth Wallace in 2003. After that, Polizzi began coaching at Central Methodist University until 2008, when he joined UCLA as a secondary coach.
His most recent roles have been at UT Martin, where he was eventually the defensive coordinator on a team that won the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in 2021 and 2022. Most recently, Polizzi was with the University of Tulsa as a defensive coordinator and safeties coach, before returning to Iowa for the 2025 season.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football names Chris Polizzi new Special Teams Coordinator
Reporting by Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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