OFFICIAL: Campbell reshuffles coaching staff; adds veteran

The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell announced today that Mick McCall, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern the past 12 seasons, was added to the Cyclone coaching staff to coach the running backs. 

McCall, who has 41 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 13 seasons as an offensive coordinator at the FBS level, will reunite with Campbell. The duo were on the same staff at Bowling Green from 2003-04 and 2007.

“Mick will be a wonderful addition to our coaching staff,” Campbell said. “Mick has had an outstanding career in coaching and his vast experience and knowledge of the game will certainly give our offensive staff room an added boost. Mick was one of my mentors when I began my career in the coaching profession and I have no doubt he will be a great fit for Iowa State football.”

McCall joined the Northwestern coaching staff as the director of the offense and quarterbacks coach in 2008, helping the Wildcats go 89-67 and record three 10-win seasons (2012, 2015, 2017). NU qualified for nine bowl games, winning four, and claimed its first-ever Big Ten West title in 2018. 

Northwestern boasted a number of quality quarterbacks under McCall’s guidance, including Clayton Thorson, Trevor Siemian, Kain Colter, Mike Kafka and Dan Persa.

Thorson, a three-time All-Big Ten performer, graduated in 2018 as the program’s career leader in passing yards (10,731), completions (991) and passing touchdowns (61). Siemian ended his NU career fourth in passing yardage (5,931) and completions (550) before forging a successful NFL career. He was the Denver Broncos starting quarterback in 2016 and 2017.

Northwestern offenses were effective in the running game and passing game during his tenure. One of his best weapons was Justin Jackson, who was a four-time All-Big Ten honoree from 2014-17. Jackson is NU’s career leader in carries (1,142), rushing yards (5,440) and rushing touchdowns (41). He also utilized wide receiver Austin Carr, who became just the third player since 1990 to lead the Big Ten in receptions (90), receiving yards (1,247) and touchdowns (12) in 2016. Carr and Jackson were the only duo in the nation to lead a conference in both receiving yards and rushing yards.

In 2012, McCall served as the architect to one most unique offensive systems in the country with Colter and Siemian. Colter started 12 games and rushed for 894 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns. Siemian threw for 1,312 yards and six touchdowns.

In 2009, McCall directed the conference’s top passing attack (286.5 ypg). In the Outback Bowl, McCall’s offense broke 21 bowl records, compiling 625 total yards during a dramatic 38-35 overtime loss to Auburn. Kafka’s 47 completions, 78 passing attempts and the Wildcats 115 total offensive plays were both NCAA bowl and NCAA FBS records.  

McCall was the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green in 2007, directing the Falcons’ spread offense, which averaged 402.5 yards per game. Prior to 2007, McCall spent four years as BGSU’s quarterbacks coach, mentoring All-Americans Josh Harris (2003) and Omar Jacobs (2004). In 2004, Jacobs set an NCAA record by throwing a nation best and MAC-record 41 TD passes with just four interceptions, the best TD/interception ratio in the history of college football.

McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. He had coaching stints at Idaho State, Oregon State and Wyoming. Among the more notable players McCall has coached is former Idaho State running back Merril Hoge. Hoge went on to star for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL from 1987-93.

Prior to his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colo., from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball. He was invited to participate in the training camp of the NFL’s Detroit Lions following his college playing career.

He and his wife, JoAnne, have two daughters, Ashley and Brittany.

Coaching Experience

2020- Iowa State – Running Backs
2008-19 Northwestern – Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2007 Bowling Green – Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
2003-06 Bowling Green – Quarterbacks
2002 Wyoming – Quarterbacks
1988-90 Oregon State – Wide Receivers
1983-87 Idaho State – Running Backs
1979-92 Southern Colorado – Quarterbacks