Deon Broomfield - Football Coach - Iowa State University Athletics

Deon Broomfield

Title:
Passing Game Coordinator/Safeties
Email:
deonb@iastate.edu
Phone:
515-294-6721

Deon Broomfield, a former Iowa State star on the football field, is in his fifth season as the Cyclone safeties coach. He added pass game coordinator to his job duties in 2023.

Broomfield, who has nine seasons coaching defensive backs at the collegiate level, spent a season as a defensive assistant with the Houston Texans prior to his return to Ames.

The Cyclone safeties were one of the nation's best collective units in 2024 with all three starters earning recognition from the Big 12 coaches, led by Malik Verdon being named an All-Big 12 second-team performer. Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler were honorable mention selections.

The group played a significant role in what amounted to the greatest single season in program history. Iowa State posted an 11-3 overall record, the first double-digit win season for the school, and reached the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game for the second time. ISU defeated No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Iowa State shut out Houston, recording the first conference road shutout in program history since 1971.

The defensive unit overcame multiple injuries and allowed just 22.9 points per game, holding opponents to fewer than 20 points in six games, which tied for the second-most games among Big 12 teams. The Cyclones were first nationally in passing defense, allowing just 165.6 yards per game, while also finishing 22nd nationally in interceptions. The Cyclones had 15 interceptions, including seven picks by the safety group. Freyler had a pair of interceptions and finished his career with six, while Verdon ended his Cyclone tenure with three. Cooper enters his senior season with seven career interceptions, tied for the eighth-most career picks nationally among active players.

In 2023, Broomfield's safety group had 11 interceptions as the Cyclones finished with 16 as a team, which ranked 10th nationally and second in the Big 12 Conference. Iowa State's 31 interceptions the last two seasons (2023-24) are tied for eighth-most nationally during the time.

Cooper picked off five passes and was a First Team All-Big 12 selection, while Freyler added three interceptions and was a Second Team All-Big 12 pick. Verdon chipped was an honorable mention All-Big 12 honoree and had two interceptions, as the safety group anchored a defensive unit that was second in the Big 12 in total defense (363.2) and third in scoring defense (22.8).

The Cyclones returned to a bowl game in 2023, earning a berth in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

The 2022 Cyclone defense was among the nation’s elite, leading the Big 12 Conference and ranking fourth nationally in total defense (285.6). The Cyclones were just the third unit in conference history to lead the league in total defense, scoring defense (20.2), rushing defense (107.3) and passing defense (178.2).

Broomfield coached Anthony Johnson Jr. to Second Team All-Big 12 honors after spending his first four seasons at cornerback. Freyler earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in his sophomore campaign.

In his first season coaching the Cyclones, ISU qualified for the Cheez-It Bowl behind one of its best defenses in school history.

ISU was third in the league in defensive scoring average (20.5) and was second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally in total defense (310.5), the lowest output by a Cyclone team since 1984. The Cyclones also led the league and ranked 11^th nationally in passing defense (187.8).

Three Cyclone safeties earned All-Big 12 recognition in 2021 in Isheem Young (2^nd team), Greg Eisworth II (honorable mention) and Freyler (honorable mention). Freyler had a fantastic true freshman season under Broomfield’s tutelage, racking up 41 tackles, including 15 vs. Clemson in the Cheez-It Bowl.

From 2017-19, Broomfield mentored the cornerbacks at Indiana State. Rondale Green was an All-MVC performer and Kaelb Newman ranked second in the MVFC and ninth nationally in forced fumbles (3) under his watch.

He was the cornerbacks coach at Western Illinois in 2016 and the safeties coach at Carthage College (Wis.) in 2015.

Broomfield was a standout defensive back for the Cyclones from 2010-13, tallying 133 tackles, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 16 pass breakups and three interceptions in his career.

He started 18 games in his career, including all 12 games in his senior season in 2013. He was fourth on the team in tackles (57) and led the team in pass breakups (6) in his final campaign.

Broomfield is remembered for two significant plays in his Cyclone career. In Iowa State’s upset win over No. 2 Oklahoma State in 2011, Broomfield made the key third-down stop to force the Cowboys into a missed field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter. ISU eventually won the game, the school’s only victory over a team ranked in the top-two nationally, in double overtime.

In his senior season, Iowa State staged its largest comeback in school history (24 points) in a 52-44 triple overtime win at West Virginia. Broomfield made the final tackle of the game, stopping the Mountaineer two yards short of the goal line on fourth down.

The Palm Bay, Fla., native earned his degree from Iowa State in 2013 and spent the 2014 season as a member of the Buffalo Bills practice squad.

He attended the 2024 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.

Broomfield and his wife, Kyla, have a son, Ari.

Coaching Experience
2021-present - Iowa State - Safeties
2020 - Houston Texans – Defensive Assistant
2017-19 - Indiana State – Cornerbacks
2016 - Western Illinois - Cornerbacks
2015 - Carthage (Wis.) - Safeties