Tyler Roehl

AMES — Tyler Roehl is returning to the Iowa State football program as its new offensive coordinator after a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions. Roehl previously served as assistant head coach and running backs coach for the Cyclones during their record-setting 2024 season.

Roehl will stay with the Lions through their final game, including the National Football League Playoffs if applicable.

Roehl, a West Fargo, N.D. native, helped the Cyclones to an 11-3 season, a Big 12 Championship game appearance and a Pop-Tarts Bowl championship in his lone season in Ames before coaching the Lions’ tight ends this season. ISU finished the 2024 season ranked No. 15 nationally.

Roehl and Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers have competed against each other both as players and coaches at North Dakota State and South Dakota State, respectively.

“He’s the ultimate competitor and having gone against him as a coach I know he has the mindset and leadership to help our offense be successful,” Rogers said. “His offenses are known for creativity, innovation and toughness, and as a former defensive coordinator, I know how hard those offenses were to prepare for when we competed against one another.”

In Detroit, Roehl’s top tight ends Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright have combined for 54 receptions for 597 yards and five touchdowns with two regular-season games remaining.

Roehl, who spent five seasons as North Dakota State’s offensive coordinator before coming to Ames, led a Cyclone rushing attack that had 27 touchdowns, tied for the fourth-most in school history.

While Roehl was on staff, Iowa State averaged 31.1 points per game, the fifth-best mark in program history, while its 416.2 total yards was the eighth best per game average.

Roehl joined the Cyclones in 2024 after being named Tennessee State’s associate head coach and offensive coordinator in January following a successful tenure at NDSU.

Roehl won seven FCS national titles and eight Missouri Valley Football Conference titles with the Bison.

In total, Roehl spent 11 years at NDSU, including five as playcaller. The Bison reached the FCS National Championship game three times, winning titles in 2019 and 2021 when Roehl was in charge of the offense. He also coached the tight ends and fullbacks for NDSU.

Roehl was a standout player for NDSU, rushing for 2,512 yards and being named a two-time CSC Academic All-American. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2009 as an undrafted free agent.

He was a Sports Network and Associated Press second-team FCS All-American in 2007, rushing for 1,431 yards and 21 touchdowns. He ran for a school-record 263 yards in a win over Minnesota and led the Great West Football Conference in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards.

Roehl graduated from NDSU in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree in health, nutrition and exercise science in 2014.