Schaefer Named Director of Scouting for Cyclone Football

AMES, Iowa - Joe Schaefer has joined the Iowa State football program as Director of Scouting, Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced today.

Schaefer spent the last six months on Maryland's football staff as a quality control assistant after highly successful high school coaching career in Ohio.

"I really excited to be here at Iowa State," Schaefer said. "I think the people that are here are exceptional. I have known a number of them for a long time. The atmosphere in Ames and support is all I have heard about, and I am very excited to get going."

A native of Parma Heights, Ohio, Schaefer was named head coach at Benedictine High School (Cleveland) in 2013 after serving as an assistant coach at the school in 2011-12. Under Schaefer's leadership, the Bengals were 35-6 in his three years as head coach (2013-15).

He led Benedictine to an Ohio Division IV state title in 2014 and his 2015 squad finished the season at 12-1.

He twice crossed paths with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell in his football career. In 2010, Schaefer was a graduate assistant at Toledo when Campbell was an assistant with the Rockets.

A 2008 graduate of Bowling Green, Schaefer also played defensive end for the Falcons (2004-08) during Campbell's stint as an assistant with the school.

"There are a couple of coaches out there in Matt's position that I am very close with," Schaefer said. "Obviously, family is very important to Matt. He's hired a great group of guys at Iowa State. I am just happy to have the opportunity to work for a coach like Matt."

Schaefer also spent a season at Findlay (2009) as the defensive line coach.

He has a wife, Maura.