During heart of the ReliaQuest Bowl preparation, the Iowa Football program suffered a huge blow.
The Iowa special teams unit, propelled by the stellar play of return specialist Kaden Wetjen, has been a force to be reckoned with once again this season.
Wetjen will more than likely receive consensus All-American status after everything is said and done, and he has single-handedly kept Iowa in some games this season.
Wetjen has compiled 965 total return yards and four total touchdowns this season.
Iowa has also been solid in the kicking game, led by senior Drew Stevens.
Stevens became the Iowa program record holder for most career made field goals (68) during Iowa's win over Penn State, and he has continued to add to that record.
Iowa's special teams unit has been stellar for as long as Kirk Ferentz has been at the helm, but it took a huge hit after Ferentz announced that long-time special teams coordinator LeVar Woods is leaving the program.
Sources: Michigan State is expected to hire LeVar Woods as Assistant Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. He’s a former Iowa player and longtime assistant at Iowa who developed a reputation as one of the country’s top special teams coaches.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 18, 2025
Woods, a former player for the Hawkeyes and a long-time coach, is moving to East Lansing to join new Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald's staff as an assistant head coach and special teams coordinator.
Kirk Ferentz announced the news during a press conference on Thursday afternoon and had nothing but praise for Woods' time and dedication to the program.
Woods has been Iowa's special teams coordinator since 2018, and the program has thrived under his tutelage.
Iowa has had one of the best special teams units in college football since Woods took over, especially in the punting and return game.
Over the past 12 seasons, the Hawkeyes have had 14 consensus All-Americans, three of whom were coached directly by Woods (Keith Duncan - 2019, Tory Taylor - 2023, Kaden Wetjen - 2025).
Woods stated that he will still coach Iowa during the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year's Eve, and his son, tight end Mason Woods, is planning to stay with the program.
The program will greatly miss Woods, but do not be surprised if his name resurfaces when Kirk Ferentz eventually hangs it up.