Scott "Izzy" Isphording - Quarterbacks

            Scott "Izzy" Isphording joins the Rockets' staff as the quarterbacks coach after spending last season as the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Ohio University. This past season, Isphording helped guide Ohio to a 9-5 record, a MAC East Division Championship and a berth in the Motor City Bowl. Isphording also has had assistant coaching stints at Eastern Michigan, Wittenberg, Colorado School of Mines and Fort Hays State.

            "I recruited and coached against Izzy when he was at Eastern Michigan," said Beckman. "He has coordinator experience and is a great recruiter. He will be a great asset to our quarterbacks."

            Isphording coached at Eastern Michigan from 2004-08, and was the offensive coordinator in his final two seasons there.  In 2008, he led the Eagles to a school-record 5,010 total yards and topped the league in red-zone efficiency (88.7 pct.), red-zone touchdown efficiency (73.6 pct.) and time of possession (32:48). The Eagles also set single-game school records in total offense (637 vs. Indiana State), rushing yards (413 vs. Indiana State) and passing yards (516 vs. Central Michigan). Isphording mentored EMU quarterback Andy Schmitt, who set NCAA single-game records with 58 completions and 76 pass attempts without an interception vs. Temple. The following week Schmitt completed 58-of-80 passes in a 56-52 win over CMU. Schmitt earned Walter Camp Foundation National Player of the Week honors for his effort, the first-ever EMU player to claim the honor.

            In 2007, Isphording directed an EMU offense that averaged 24.2 points and 337.5 yards per game. Under his tutelage, Schmitt ranked 51st in the national in pass efficiency at 130.86. The year before, Isphording oversaw a quarterback corps which averaged 276.2 yards a game. Individually, he saw Schmitt average 182.6 yards per game.

            During the 2004 season, EMU piled up the yardage using the spread offense, finishing 21st in the nation in total offense, rolling up an average of 427.91 yards per game. The Eagles were also 33rd in the Division I-A ranks in scoring offense at 29.82 points a game. Under his direction, quarterback Matt Bohnet ranked sixth in the nation in total offense (293.7).

            Prior to his post at EMU, Isphording served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wittenberg from 1998-2003. While at Wittenberg, Isphording also served as the head men's golf coach in 2002 and 2003 and was an assistant baseball coach from 1998-02. As the offensive coordinator, he helped Wittenberg win four North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championships while recording a 63-9 win-loss record. The football team made five appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs, making it to the regional finals three times and the regional semifinals twice. From 2001-2003, he also served as the assistant head coach. His 2002 and 2003 teams were ranked nationally in the NCAA Division III statistical report.

            Prior to his Wittenberg coaching stint, Isphording was the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Colorado School of Mines (1996-98), and was the quarterbacks coach at Fort Hays State University (1994-96).

            A four-year letterwinner as a quarterback at Hanover College, Isphording helped the offense rank third in the NCAA Division III ranks in 1992. During that '92 season, Isphording recorded 3,098 yards in passing offense, which was the sixth-best effort in Division III history.

            A native of Cincinnati, OH, Isphording graduated from LaSalle High School in 1990 and went on to complete his bachelor's degree at Hanover College in 1994. He earned a master's degree in physical education at Fort Hays State in 1996. Isphording and his wife, Shelly, have one daughter, Erika.

Scott Isphording's Coaching History

Years          School/Team                                      Position
2010            Toledo                                                  Quarterbacks
2009            Ohio                                                      Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
2008            Eastern Michigan                                    Offensive Coordinator
2007            Eastern Michigan                                    Offensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator
2004-06       Eastern Michigan                                    Quarterbacks/Recruiting Coordinator
2001-04       Wittenberg                                             Assistant Head Coach
1998-03       Wittenberg                                             Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
1996-97       Colorado School of Mines                        Quarterbacks/Receivers
1994-95       Fort Hays State                                      Quarterbacks