Bryan Gasser - Football Coach - Iowa State Athletics

Bryan Gasser

Title:
Wide Receivers/Special Teams
Email:
bgasser@iastate.edu
Phone:
4-6721

Bryan Gasser, who spent five seasons on Matt Campbell’s staff at Toledo, is in his fourth season as wide receivers coach at Iowa State.

Gasser’s work with Iowa State’s receiving corps and special team units, which he mentored in his first two years in Ames, have drawn rave reviews.

One of Gasser’s success stories at Iowa State was Allen Lazard, a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 wide receiver, who ended his career with school records in receptions (241), receiving yards (3,360) and 100-yard receiving games (12).

Lazard’s senior year in 2017 was one of the best in school history, breaking the ISU record for touchdowns in a season (10) and ranking second in receptions (71). He also ended his career with a school-record 48-straight games with a reception and earning MVP honors in the Liberty Bowl.

In 2018, Gasser helped Hakeem Butler record one of the best seasons for a Cyclone wide receiver in school history.

Butler, who earned Second-Team All-America honors by The Athletic, shattered ISU's season receiving yardage record with 1,318 yards. Butler ranked third nationally in yards per reception (22.0) and ninth in the nation in receiving yards per game (101.4).

Butler ranked third nationally in 40-yard catches (10) and tied for first in school history with six 100-yard receiving games.

ISU’s 2017 season was one of the best in the history of the program. The Cyclones compiled an 8-5 record, the second-most wins in school history, and scored a victory in the 2017 Liberty Bowl over Memphis, only the fourth bowl win in the history of the program.

Iowa State also broke its school record for wins over ranked opponents (3), victories on the road (5) and appeared in the AP national rankings for the first time in 12 years.

Lazard wasn’t the only talented player in Gasser’s wide receiver room in 2017. ISU was one of six teams nationally to have four players with 40 or more receptions: Lazard (71), Trever Ryen (47), Butler (41) and Marchie Murdock (41).

Butler, who was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 pick, was a breakout star in his sophomore season, ranking 47^th nationally in yards per reception (17.0) and tying for ninth on ISU’s season touchdown reception list with seven.

10 Strong: Coach Gasser and the Wide Receivers

In 2016, Lazard continued his progression into one of the premier wide receivers in the nation under Gasser’s tutelage. Lazard recorded one of ISU’s greatest individual seasons for a receiver, becoming just the fourth player in school history to join the 1,000-yard receiving club (1,018).

Lazard broke the school record for 100-yard receiving games (6) and tallied the third-most receptions in a season with 69.

Gasser also mentored true freshman receiver Deshaunte Jones, who had one of the greatest rookie seasons in school history. Jones, who was named honorable mention freshman All-American, was second on the team in receptions (37) and receiving yards (536), totals which both rank in the top-five on ISU’s freshman charts. He also caught six touchdown passes, the second-best total by an ISU freshman in school history and the fourth-best total nationally among FBS rookies.

ISU’s special teams have been phenomenal under Gasser. In 2016, true freshman Kene Nwangwu averaged 26.35 yards per kickoff return, which ranked 15th nationally and was the third-best average in school history. In the season finale vs. West Virginia, Nwangwu ran back a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the third-longest return in school history. Nwangwu was named to a number of freshman All-America teams as a kick returner.

Trever Ryen was one of the best punt returners in the nation in 2016 and 2017, averaging 16.50 per return in 2016, the third-best average in school history. Ryen ranked 20^th nationally in punt return average (10.1) in 2017 and ended his career with the fourth-best punt return average (13.4) in school history.

Gasser’s 2016 special teams units appeared in the top-35 of the national rankings in the following categories: punt return defense (No. 21, 4.40), kickoff returns (No. 27, 23.11) and net punting (No. 35, 38.88).

In Gasser’s five-year tenure at Toledo, the Rockets played in four bowl games and had four nine-win seasons.

Gasser was the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator in his last two seasons at UT. He previously served as the Rockets’ director of high school relations in 2013 where he helped the recruiting staff put assemble the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the MAC, according to Rivals.com and Scout.com. He also worked as a graduate assistant at UT in 2010 and 2012, primarily working with the tight ends.

In 2015, tight end Michael Roberts caught 18 passes for 188 yards and four TDs in the 12-game regular-season. The Rocket special teams play was also outstanding, ranking ninth nationally with two blocked punts and second in the MAC in punt returns (11.27). Punt return specialist Corey Jones was a first-team All-MAC recipient, ranking 29th nationally in punt returns at 10.5.

In 2014, Gasser guided Rocket tight ends that were an integral part of Toledo’s offense, which ranked No. 1 in the MAC. Alex Zmolik caught 16 passes, including a career-best six in the GoDaddy Bowl. Roberts grabbed two TD passes in limited playing time, while Zac Rosenbauer was a key blocker in short yardage situations.

The Rockets ranked No. 1 in kickoff coverage and No. 2 in punt return yards in the MAC in 2014 under Gasser’s guidance. UT also earned MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week honors five times, three by placekicker Jeremiah Detmer and two by kick returner Jones. Detmer earned second-team All-MAC honors and finished his career as the most accurate field-goal kicker in conference history (84.4 percent).

Also in 2014, four players under Gasser’s tutelage earned Academic All-MAC honors: long snapper Brad Spelman, Detmer, Zmolik and Rosenbauer.

In 2011, Gasser coached the wide receivers and was co-offensive coordinator at Notre Dame College, a Division II school in South Euclid, OH. Gasser helped the Falcons set records in scoring, yards per game and passing yards per game.

Gasser played football at Ohio Northern University from 2003-05, earning All-OAC and Academic All-OAC honors at tight end in 2005. He then served as an assistant coach at his alma mater from 2006-08, working with tight ends and running backs. He coached three All-OAC players in his three seasons at ONU.

In 2009, Gasser served as the offensive line/special teams coach at Otsego High School while completing his master’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University.

Gasser is from Northwood, Ohio, and attended Cardinal Stritch High School, where he played football, basketball and track.

Gasser and his wife, Jessica, have a daughter, Witten.

Coaching Experience
2018 Iowa State - Wide Receivers
2016-17 Iowa State – Wide Receivers, Special Teams
2014-15 Toledo - Tight Ends, Special Teams Coordinator
2013 Toledo - Director of High School Relations
2012 Toledo - Graduate Assistant
2011 Notre Dame College (OH) - Co-Offensive Coordinator, Wide Receivers
2010 Toledo - Graduate Assistant
2009 Otsego High School - Offensive Line, Special Teams
2006-08 Ohio Northern - Tight Ends, Running Backs

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