Peterson: Nate Scheelhaase “grateful” to have been part of Iowa State football resurgence

Answer this: Other than the money, why does anyone choose to coach at the major college football level when presented with an opportunity to do what you love in the NFL?

Big-time college football has morphed into something a lot more than just the X’s and O’s on the practice field and putting them to work during games. Still, that wasn’t even remotely part of Nate Scheelhaase’s thought process when making the tough decision to leave Iowa State after just one season as Matt Campbell’s offensive coordinator.

Scheelhaase is about as much a football lifer as you can get. The 33-year-old envisions himself as a head coach someday, which I guarantee will happen. He’s been on that path since going through a fellowship program with the Kansas City Chiefs a while back.

That path now is taking him to the Los Angeles Rams, where he’ll become a passing game specialist – and where there’s no re-recruitment of players, no recruiting future players, no NIL deals and no transfer portal.

More: Iowa State offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is headed to the Los Angeles Rams

“Absolutely, at some point, I would like the opportunity to lead a program,” Scheelhaase told me this week. “The best way and the fastest way to grow is to find an expert in the field, and essentially be an apprentice under them. Every single day, I had that when I was surrounded by all the great people at Iowa State. It was such an awesome experience to learn from Coach (Matt) Campbell. I was grateful for him. In a lot of ways, I feel he pushed my growth.”

During a recruiting trip after Scheelaase’s first Iowa State season as running backs coach in December 2018, Campbell told him he had what it takes to become a head coach someday.

Iowa State is looking to replace offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.

“He said ‘I’d love to walk with…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/peterson-nate-scheelhaase-grateful-part-115525703.html

Author : The Des Moines Register

Publish date : 2024-02-22 11:55:25

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