Over the past two years, Drake University football has seen numerous changes to the coaching staff that have impacted the program and its championship showings in the Football College Subdivision tournament.
With former head coach Joe Woodley announcing on Feb. 9 his resignation to join the defensive coaching staff at Rutgers University in New Jersey, the football community is left looking at new options.
The beloved coach has left an imprint on Drake and his past coaching jobs around the state that have solidified him as a standout coach, no matter which team he is leading.
“Our football program, and Drake Athletics as a whole, is thankful to Coach Woodley for his contributions as a Bulldog,” Drake Director of Athletics Brian Hardin said. “Joe used his natural leadership and excellent skills as a football coach to put together another sensational season in Drake Stadium. We wish him continued success on his coaching journey.”
Woodley spent time as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes coach at Grand View University for 17 seasons and earned his place as one of the most accomplished NAIA football coaches of all time, according to Drake Athletics. The Valley High School and Iowa State Cyclone football alumnus has kept his talents in the central Iowa pool for years, and from his time as a player and a coach, his knowledge of the game made him a clear hire for the Bulldogs going into the 2025-26 season.
Woodley brought the Bulldogs through their third Pioneer League championship in a row, continuing what Todd Stepsis started back in 2023.
Prior to Woodley filling the coaching position, current University of Northern Iowa head coach Stepsis led the Bulldogs through two back-to-back championship seasons. This success came after leaving Saginaw Valley State University’s coaching staff. Stepsis sought out this coaching change after Mark Farley stepped down for the Panthers, and is now a season into his five-year contract.
“I have a great appreciation for the winning tradition of UNI Football, as well as the litany of respected and highly successful head coaches who have held this role,” Stepsis said in a release when the news was released to the public.
With the history of Drake coaches moving up from the Pioneer League training grounds, the search for a new coach is still early and leaves many questions unanswered. Most coaching positions are filled within days of an opening, but Hardin and his staff may be looking at a longer process to find a replacement, given how much scouting the University puts into filling its positions.
The Drake athletic department has not commented on the search thus far, nor have there been any updates on the candidate pool, but comments will be expected before the end of February, with spring training and spring games around the corner.
