Jacob Zier 26

Jacob Zier

Jacob Zier joined the Red Hawks football coaching staff in 2025 as the Defensive Coordinator. 

Before coming to Simpson, Coach Zier has accumulated a decorated coaching career including stops as an Outside Linebackers Coach and a Volunteer Defensive Line Assistant at Eastern Washington University (2013-15), Defensive Line Coach at Puyallup High School (2014-15), Defensive Backs Coach at Trinity International University (2016-17), Defensive Line Coach at Wenatchee High School (2022 & 2018), Cornerbacks Coach at Minot State University (2019-21), and Bluffton University as the Defensive Coordinator and interim Head Coach (2023-25). 

Coach Zier proved to be instrumental in the improvement of Bluffton University's defensive resurgence as he helped turn one of the worst defenses in 2024 into the NAIAs most improved unit. Reducing points allowed by 18.4 PPG, yards by 123.5 YPG, rushing yards by 89.1 YPG, and passing yards by 34.4 YPG. They doubled their interceptions, increased their sacks by 33%, reduced total Red Zone opportunities by 17, and generated 35 more 3rd Downs while allowing five fewer 3rd Down Conversions for a 25% improvement. He helped transform a defense that ranked 226th nationally (467.8 YPG) into one of the HCAC’s top units, reducing yardage by 89.7 YPG, scoring by 12.1 PPG, improving 3rd-down defense by 7.5%, and red-zone scoring defense by 19.5% in one season (2023). He built the HCAC’s best red-zone defense in back-to-back seasons (2023–24)—the program’s first consecutive conference-leading finish since at least 2008 and Bluffton’s best red-zone unit since 2018. 

Coaching Accolades: 

  • Generated 23 takeaways (most at Bluffton since 2017), including 17 interceptions (most since 2012) (2023), tied for 3rd in HCAC in INTs, with 4 interceptions inside the red zone (2024). 

  • Increased tackles for loss by 14, producing Bluffton’s most TFLs since 2016, tying for 11th nationally in solo TFLs (2024), and set a school record with 9 sacks in a single game (2023). 

  • Improved 4th-down stops by 9.1%, led the HCAC in forced fumbles, and tied for 1st in fumble recoveries in conference play (2024). 

  • Contributed to the program’s first win over Franklin College since 2013 and Bluffton’s highest HCAC finish since 2017 (2024). 

  • Developed multiple All-HCAC defenders, including Nick Perry (2023 2nd Team, 2024 1st Team), Marvus McWright (2023 Honorable Mention, 2024 2nd Team), Jaydon McBreen (2023 Honorable Mention), Malik Echols (2023 Honorable Mention), Travion Curry (2024 2nd Team; HCAC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 10 2024)), Nolan Whobrey (2024 Honorable Mention; HCAC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 6 2024)), and Maxwell Moore (2024 Honorable Mention), across the 2023–24 seasons. 

  • Led the Defensive Line in 2022 on a unit that improved across all major metrics, increasing sacks by 3, generating 16 additional TFLs, allowing 35 fewer rushing YPG, 6 fewer PPG, and producing 20 takeaways—double the previous season’s total. 

  • Camp Coordinator (2021–2023): Established Minot State’s first Team Camp, generating the largest fundraising deposit of the coaching tenure. 

  • Led the Cornerbacks to significant pass-defense improvements, allowing two fewer passing TDs year-over-year (2019), cutting passing yards by 16 YPG (2021), and helping the unit improve from last to first in the NSIC (2021) while tying for the most wins in the program’s Division II era (2019). 

  • Coached Knylen Miller-Levi to NSIC North Division First Team All-Conference honors (2021). 

  • Academic Coordinator (2020–2021): Led academic accountability efforts, increasing team GPA by 4.9% and producing the highest team GPA in eight years (3.21). 

  • Assistant Special Teams Coordinator in 2019, helped coach a unit that tied for 5th nationally with four blocked punts. 

  • Developed a Defensive Backs unit in 2018 that reduced passing yards allowed from 1,961 to 1,265 year-over-year (-696 yards). 

  • Coached Farace Nassar and Dalton Thomas to 2nd Team All-League honors in 2018, with Thomas earning Most Improved Player and advancing to play at Southwestern College. 

  • Cultivated an environment of competition in 2016 that drove increased defensive line production in all statistical categories, including adding 11.5 sacks, 75 tackles, and 21.5 TFLs to the previous season’s totals. 

  • Coached a defensive line unit in 2016 that produced 23 sacks on the season, marking only the fourth 20-sack season for Trinity since 2006. 

  • Developed Godfrey Collins II in 2016, an NCCAA All-American and MSFA Midwest League Honorable Mention selection. 

  • Developed Brady Winter in 2014 and Gavin Dunayski in 2015, who went on to play at Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Wyoming, respectively. 

Part of Eastern Washington’s historic 2013 season, becoming the 4th FCS program ever to defeat a ranked FBS opponent and advancing to the National Semifinals. 

Coach Zier attended Eastern Washington University (2009-11), University of Puget Sound (2011-12), and Eastern Washington (2013), where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Communications. 

He is happily married to his wife Cristina, as they live in Redding, CA, with their three daughters: Reighlyn, Kinley, and Adelynn. 
Coach Zier's excitement: 

"The opportunity to join the community of Simpson University and be a part of building the foundation of a young football program. Being a part of a staff that coaches with a Biblical worldview is an exciting element that separates Simpson University and makes it unique."