Tyler Staker is no stranger to the Kohawk football program as he enters his 17th season with the Kohawks this fall. Staker served 10 seasons as an assistant coach before being named the Head Coach of the Kohawk football program in November of 2015. Staker replaced his father, Steve, a legendary hall of famer who spent over 50 years positively impacting young peoples’ lives coaching high school and college football.
The Kohawks punched their ticket to the NCAA DIII Playoffs for the second straight season in 2024, going 9-2 overall with its lone regular-season loss at Wartburg in a defensive battle. The Kohawks were led by all-Americans Trenton Barnes (RB) and Alex Aitchson (DE) who highlighted a group of 14 players that earned all-conference honors.
Staker finished his eighth season in charge in 2023, leading Coe to nine wins, its second-highest total in his tenure. The Kohawks rolled to a 7-1 record in the A-R-C and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the first time since 2016. Coe had a program-record 16 all-conference performers with five earning first-team honors.
In his first year at the helm, the 2016 Kohawk team finished 11-1 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Coe won the Iowa conference for the fifth time in school history while completing the third 10-0 regular season in school history. Staker was named IIAC Coach of the year as well as the AFCA D3 Regional Coach of the year. The 2016 team produced IIAC offensive MVP in running back Trevor Heitland, and defensive MVP in defensive back Dylan Stepleton. 2021 produced Coach Staker's best season since 2016 as the Kohawks registered an 8-2 overall record with a 6-2 mark in the A-R-C. Coe extended its winning streak over local-rival Cornell to 21 games during the season and saw 11 players earn all-conference honors to cap off the campaign.
During his stint as head coach, Coe has had eighth all-Americans and over 80 all-conference players, including over 30 first-team selections. Staker has also coached 3 conference MVPs. Staker is a 2006 graduate of Coe College and is the youngest of 5 siblings that all attended Coe. He was a four-year letterman and a two-time captain for the Kohawks, where he garnered all-conference honors as a defensive back his junior and senior years, as well as an all-west region performer his senior year. During his four years as a student-athlete, Staker helped the Kohawks to a record of 29-14 and three IIAC championships.
After graduation, Staker spent two seasons as a graduate assistant, where he helped coach the offensive line and wide receivers before he took over as the offensive coordinator in 2008. During his 8 year run as offensive coordinator, the Kohawks posted a 51-23 record, an IIAC championship in 2012, and 3 NCAA Playoff appearances. Staker is married to Kristy Staker, a 2008 graduate of Coe College. Tyler and Kristy have four kids, Avery, Cade, Ellie and Olivia.
Tyler Staker Year-By-Year
|
Overall |
|
|
ARC |
|
|
|
Postseason |
| Year |
Won |
Loss |
Pct. |
Won |
Loss |
Pct. |
Place |
|
| 2016 |
11 |
1 |
.917 |
8 |
0 |
1.000 |
1st |
NCAA Second Round |
| 2017 |
4 |
6 |
.400 |
2 |
6 |
.250 |
t-7th |
|
| 2018 |
6 |
4 |
.600 |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
5th |
|
| 2019 |
6 |
4 |
.600 |
5 |
3 |
.625 |
4th |
|
2020*
*Played in Spring of '21 |
0 |
1 |
.000 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
| 2021 |
8 |
2 |
.800 |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
3rd |
|
| 2022 |
7 |
3 |
.700 |
6 |
2 |
.750 |
2nd |
|
| 2023 |
9 |
2 |
.812 |
7 |
1 |
.875 |
2nd |
NCAA First Round |
| 2024 |
9 |
2 |
.818 |
7 |
1 |
.875 |
2nd |
NCAA First Round |
| Career |
60 |
26 |
.697 |
46 |
18 |
.718 |
|
Three NCAA Appearances |
