PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano has named Joe Woodley to the defensive staff with a position role to be determined. The Iowa native brings seven seasons of experience as a head coach, including winning a national championship at Grand View and securing an FCS Playoffs berth last season with Drake, and has previously coached with Scarlet Knight defensive coordinator Travis Johansen. He was listed among ESPN's "30 coaches who will define the next decade of college football" in 2024.
After six seasons leading Grand View (2019-24), Woodley took over Drake as head coach in 2025 and guided the program to an outright Pioneer Football League (PFL) championship with a 7-1 conference record, 8-4 overall. The Bulldogs earned the third FCS Playoffs bid in program history, facing Johansen's South Dakota Coyotes in the first round. Fourteen players were selected all-conference for Drake, including the league's Defensive Player of the Year in linebacker Sean Allison, who was also named Third Team All-America, and Offensive Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America pick in running back Nick Herman.
The Bulldog defense held PFL opponents to 11.0 points per game and 287.6 yards per game, ranking first and second in the league. Nationally, the unit ranked sixth in scoring defense (17.7), sixth in red zone defense (.714), 14th in total defense (323.3), 22nd in sacks (2.5), 26th in passing defense (192.3), 27th in rushing defense (131.0) and 27th in first downs defense (215). In the classroom, the program saw 69 student-athletes named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll.
Photo credit: Ginnie Coleman for Drake University
Woodley spent 17 seasons (2008-24) at Grand View on both sides of the ball, serving as head coach for the final six years after replacing his father, Mike. As head coach, Woodley led the Vikings to the NAIA quarterfinals twice, the NAIA semifinals twice and two NAIA title games, winning the 2024 national championship with a 14-0 record. Overall, he amassed a record of 72-5 and never lost a regular season game.
Individually, Woodley was named North Division Conference Head Coach of the Year in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. As offensive coordinator in 2018, Woodley's unit ranked in the top 25 nationally in points per game, rushing yards per game and yards per game. Prior to that, Woodley coordinated a top-10 defense nine times and named the 2009 MSFA Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year and 2013 Football Scoop Coordinator of the Year.
He coached more than 60 All-Heart of America Athletic Conference selections, seven AFCA All-Americans, six HAAC Players of the Year, five HAAC Offensive Players of the Year and four HAAC Defensive Players of the Year. In addition, Woodley helped quarterback Jackson Waring earn the 2024 NAIA Football Player of the Year, the division's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
Woodley was an assistant coach with Johansen for the 2013 Vikings team that capped an undefeated season with the school's first football national title. The two were both on the GV staff together from 2013-18.
Prior to his time at Grand View, Woodley served as the defensive line and linebackers coach at Johnston High School (2006-07) in Iowa under his brother, Brian. Before coaching the Dragons, he spent two seasons coaching the same positions at St. Ambrose University (2004-05) and helped the Fighting Bees to a 15-5 record and top 10 national defensive rating during his tenure.
Woodley was a standout prep player at Valley High School, where he graduated in 1999. The linebacker was named first team all-state and Central Iowa Metro League Player of the Year. Woodley went on to compete at Iowa State, captained the Cyclones to three bowl appearances from 1999-2003 and earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies with an exercise science emphasis in 2004.
Personal
Hometown: Clive, Iowa
Alma Mater: Iowa State, 2004
Wife: Jen
Children: Daughters, Anna, Elly and Emma
Coaching History
2026-present: Rutgers (defensive assistant)
2025: Drake (head coach)
2019-24: Grand View (head coach)
2018: Grand View (offensive coordinator)
2008-17: Grand View (defensive coordinator)
2006-07: Johnston HS (defensive line/linebackers)
2004-05: St. Ambrose (defensive backs/linebackers)
