Rogers Announces Defensive Staff

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Jimmy Rogers has announced the position coach assistants for his first season with the program.

Rogers previously announced that Jesse Bobbit, his defensive coordinator at Washington State and South Dakota State, will join the Cyclones in the same role.

Bobbit's group includes three other defensive staffers from Washington State as well as former Toledo Co-Defensive Coordinator Ross Watson.

"I'm thrilled to be able to keep our defensive group together and add Ross Watson to the mix," Rogers said. "I know what this group is about and have no doubt that their attention to detail, intensity and culture setting will allow us to be competitive from the start."

The following coaches have agreed to join Rogers' staff as preparation begins for the 135^th season in program history:

Mike Banks – Cornerbacks – Full Bio
Banks played a key role in helping Washington State's defense rank among the nation's Top 15 teams in passing defense, allowing just 174.4 passing yards per game. The University Park, Illinois native also worked with Rogers at South Dakota State in a similar capacity with the 2024 Jackrabbit defense finishing fifth in FCS in total defense and registering 14 interceptions. He helped develop First Team All-American Dalys Beanum in 2024, while on the other side Colby Humphrey was a second team all-conference pick. He also spent time at his alma mater, Illinois State, and produced another All-American while the Redbirds made the FCS Playoffs twice, including the quarterfinals in 2019.

Jalon Bibbs – Defensive Line – Full Bio
Bibbs has worked alongside Rogers at both Washington State and South Dakota State and helped form those defenses into two of the best nationally at their respective levels. His defensive linemen helped Washington State compile 31 sacks last season, while being outstanding in specialty situations. The Cougars ranked seventh nationally in fourth down conversion defense (.333) and 11th in red zone defense (.727). Defensive end Isaac Terrell had seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss and was the nation's 19^th-ranked edge defender by PFF during the regular season. The Phoenix, Arizona native was on SDSU's staff in 2023 during the Jacks' FCS National Championship run. In his two seasons at SDSU, seven of eight starting defensive linemen earned all-conference accolades, while one was an All-American and another a freshman All-American.

Pete Menage – Safeties – Full Bio
Menage joins the Cyclone coaching staff after being on Rogers' staff at both Washington State and South Dakota State as safeties coach. The 2025 Washington State squad allowed just 20.2 points per game, including just 12.7 points over the course of the season's final eight regular season games. He was in charge of the same position group at SDSU when the team won the 2023 FCS National Championship and reached the semifinals in 2024. The Rock Rapids, Iowa native's safety group intercepted 14 passes in his two-year stint with the Jackrabbits.

Ross Watson – SAM Linebackers/Nickelbacks/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator – Full Bio
Watson, a Youngstown, Ohio native, spent the last 10 seasons at Toledo, serving as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Rockets since 2020. His 2025 defense had nine players honored as All-MAC selections, including his two starting safeties Braden Awls and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, both first-team picks. The 2025 Rockets ranked third nationally in total defense (247.8 ypg), while also finishing top five in passing efficiency, tackles for loss and red zone defense. In 10 seasons at UT, the team reached nine bowl games and won the MAC in 2017.

Iowa State University Athletics

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