Tommy Birch | The Des Moines Register

Tommy Birch

AMES, Ia. — Joel Gordon patiently — but not quietly — worked behind the scenes as an offensive analyst for the Iowa State football team the last two seasons.

Whenever Gordon got a chance, he'd offer input and suggest ideas to coach Matt Campbell.

Campbell liked what he heard so much that when he reorganized part of his offensive staff, he promoted Gordon as the new quarterbacks coach of the Cyclones last week.

Luke Lu/Iowa State Athletis

“I think some places, someone like me, sitting in that meeting room for the last two years, I probably wouldn’t have had a voice,” Gordon said. “And he allowed me to ask questions every day and make points if I thought I had one or anything.”

He apparently did.

As an offensive analyst for the Cyclones, Gordon helped scout opponents, pored over Iowa State film looking for ways to help players improve and even mentored and met members of the team after practice, including quarterback Kyle Kempt. Gordon had a huge hand in helping Kempt transition into the starting spot.

That’s part of the reason why Campbell decided to reshuffle part of his offensive staff. Jim Hofher, who spent the last two seasons working as Iowa State’s passing game coordinator, was moved to senior offensive analyst/assistant to the head coach. Campbell replaced Hofher with Gordon, who has already easily transitioned into his new role.

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"I've had a chance to see our opponents in our conference," Gordon said. "I’ve had a chance to learn our offense here. And I’ve had a chance to develop relationships with our quarterbacks here. I feel like I’ve got a pretty good idea of who they are, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are and also offensively, what we’ve done, what’s been good to us and where we need to go.”

It helps that Gordon has a resume full of offensive experience. Gordon was a four-year starting quarterback at Shepherd, where he graduated with career school records in passing yards (7,236), completions (522), total offense (7,677) and touchdown passes (66).

After his playing career, he worked at North Carolina Wesleyan, had two stints at Shepherd, went on to Emory & Henry and had a brief stint at Ferrum. Gordon assisted with calling plays at Shepherd and during his final season, the Rams broke the school record for points per game (43.5) and ranked third in the nation in scoring offense.

The most important period of his coaching career may have come at Emory & Henry. That's where Gordon came across now former Iowa State offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Tom Manning. Manning, who worked as the offensive line coach/run game coordinator there from 2007-08. Gordon was the offensive coordinator from 2008-10. He made such an impression that when Manning left with Campbell to Iowa State years later, he put in a good word for Gordon to join the staff.

Once Gordon got to Iowa State, he caught the attention of Campbell, who not only loved his background playing and coaching but also loved what he brought to the table during his two seasons on staff with the Cyclones.

"(He's) a guy that understands what elite success looks like," Campbell said.

Campbell already has so much faith in Gordon that the new assistant could be among the members of his staff calling plays next season. The Cyclones have yet to name Manning’s replacement as offensive coordinator. Campbell hinted that it could be a title no one on his staff gets. No matter what he does with the job, Gordon will have a hand in the play calling process.

It’s kind of why we hired him for the opportunity that he’s been an offensive coordinator in our system and knows our system really well,” Campbell said.

Gordon is just happy for the opportunity Campbell has given him.