Jacob Iery enters his sixth season with the Northern State football staff in the fall of 2025, leading defensive line for the Wolves.
Northern State went 6-5 overall and closed out the season winning six of their last seven games in teh fall of 2024. Four Wolves were honored on the NSIC All-Conference teams and Jake Adams went on to grab two All-American honors and recognition from D2Football.com. The fall of 2023 saw the Wolves going 5-6 overall. Seven single game, season, and career school records were tied or broken in 2023, while four Wolves were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams.
In 2022, the Wolves went 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the North Division. Northern tallied their first NFCA Top-25 victory in the Schmidt-era with a 23-22 win over No. 24 Minnesota State. It was the first win over the Mavericks in over 50 years. The Wolves defense tallied school records in single game point allowed (0 versus UIU), single game quarterback sacks (4.0), single season punt returns (21.0), single season tackles for a loss yards (124), and single season sacks (14.0). The Wolves defense ranked eight in redzone defense and tenth in rushing defense nationally in 2022. Two defensive linemen were named to the NSIC All-Conference teams including Ian Marshall (NSIC Defensive Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year) and Luke Chuol (second team). Marshall also earned D2CCA Super Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, NFCA, D2CCA, and Don Hansen All-America, and a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.
In the fall of 2021, the Wolves posted a 7-4 record from Dacotah Bank Stadium. Northern tallied their first win over USF in the Division II era and first win over Winona since 1999 (breaking a 14 game losing streak). In addition, it was the first time receiving votes in AFCA Top-25 Poll and first NCAA Regional Ranking in program history. Iery led the safeties in 2021, including all-conference, all-region, and All-American selection Chance Olson.
He joins NSU after two seasons as a student assistant coach at Valparaiso University on the defensive line, specifically working with the defensive tackles. Iery mentored All-Pioneer League honorable mention nose guard, James Reed, and oversaw the league leading defensive line in 2018 which recroded 224 tackles.
Iery played two seasons at Valparaiso University. He graduated from Valpo with a bachelors degree in business management. Iery earned his masters degree in sports performance and leadership from Northern State.
He resides in Aberdeen with his wife, Holly Vancura-Iery and their dogs Whiskey and Bourbon.
