DES MOINES, Iowa – Newly hired Drake football head coach, Joe Woodley, has announced the completion of his coaching staff. The Bulldogs' new coaching staff has garnered years of team and individual success at multiple levels of football. This group of leaders will continue the Bulldogs' sustained success and help guide Drake football to the next echelon of FCS football.
 
His staff includes:
 

• Kyle Kempt, Offensive Coordinator
• Adam Cox, Defensive Coordinator
• Joe Evans, Defensive Line
• Josh Manchigiah, Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs
• AJ Vasquez, Outside Linebackers
• Quincy Griffith, Offensive Line
• Drew Adams, Wide Receivers
• Seth Hestness, Tight Ends

 
WOODLEY'S WORDS…
"Kyle had a great career as a player at Iowa State. From sixth string walk on to beating Oklahoma on the road in his first college start. Kyle showed an unmatched loyalty to the Iowa State football program and for us to get him to come Drake shows how hungry he is to run his own offense. His organization, detail and preparation were evident in the interview process. He is more than ready for this opportunity The Drake offense is in great hands. I am thrilled to welcome Kyle and his wife and their expected child in July."
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"Adam is a hog farmer from Illinois that walked on at the University of Iowa and defied several odds to become a team captain and impact player on a Big 10 Championship team. He has learned defensive football under some of the best minds in the college game working for Phil Parker and Seth Wallace at the University of Iowa and Travis Johansen at the University of South Dakota. He is more than ready for this opportunity, and I am looking forward to see him lead our defense. I am thrilled to welcome his wife, Kenzie, and their two boys, JJ and Jake as well."
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"Joe has always believed in himself and his abilities. He went from a walk on at Iowa to being All Big 10 and team captain by the time he was a senior and most recently a member of the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. Joe comes from a coaching family; his grandpa Bob was a legendary coach in this state and his dad Spence was a successful high school coach and administrator as well. Joe played and learned under three of the best defensive line coaches in the country - Reese Morgan, Kelvin Bell and former Drake defensive coordinator Jay Niemann. His intensity and enthusiasm will be infectious with our guys. The Drake defensive line is in for a real treat to be able to learn under him."
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"Josh was a national championship player at South Dakota State and has had a great start to his coaching career learning under Travis Johansen at South Dakota and Phil Parker at Iowa. Our players will appreciate his poise and humility and his passion for coaching defensive football and special teams play. I am thrilled to welcome Josh and his wife, Chloe, and their daughter Violet."
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"AJ came over to Drake from Grand View with me and I will never forget that his loyalty and unwavering commitment to make everything better than how he found it is a testament to the kind of coach he will be for our guys here at Drake. They will love his energy and the work ethic that he will bring to the job every day. I am ecstatic that AJ will continue to be by my side. He has earned this opportunity."
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"Quincy is a guy that I have always had my eye on in this profession. He has been one of those guys that has always tried to challenge himself with each job he took. He most recently served as an assistant OL coach at the University of Iowa and learned under the master OL coach, Kirk Ferentz, as well as another guy I have a ton of respect for, George Barnett. Quincy is a fiercely loyal Iowan from Ankeny and played his college ball at tradition rich Wartburg. Our OL will love playing for him."
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"Drew was a GA for me at Grand View two years ago and he was one of the best we have ever had in that role. The last two years he spread his wings and went to Division II Colorado School of Mines where he helped them win 22 games and make an appearance in the National Title game. Drew is mature beyond his years and will be a major asset for Drake football. He is a rising star in this profession. I am thrilled to welcome him and his fiancée."
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"Seth will bring great versatility to our staff. He has been a part of National Championship teams at North Dakota State, playoff teams at Wartburg College, Power 4 experience at Minnesota, and most recently coached for an NFL hall of famer at Tennessee State, and he is a native Iowan from Mason City. He will be a natural fit for what we are trying to build at Drake. "
 
 
QUOTES FROM THE COACHES…
Kyle Kempt
"It's an honor to be given the opportunity to be the offensive coordinator at a high-reputation school like Drake University. I believe that our staff and the players are going to be special this season and I couldn't be more excited to continue working with Coach Woodley and be part of it. Go Bulldogs!"
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Adam Cox
"I am fired up to be the defensive coordinator here at Drake and [am thankful] for the opportunity to work with Coach Woodley and our staff to help our players reach their potential on and off the field. It is an honor to be here and look forward to putting a product on the field that fans and alumni will be proud of."
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Joe Evans
"As a proud Iowan I feel humbled and blessed to start my coaching career at Drake University. I can't wait to join the incredible staff Joe Woodley is putting together. My goal is to help build and grow this great program. Go Bulldogs!"
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Josh Manchigiah
"I'm fired up to be a part of the Drake Football staff. It's an awesome opportunity to be part of a winning program and I can't wait to get to work!"
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AJ Vasquez
"I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the coaching staff at Drake University. It's an honor to be part of such a respected program, and I'm eager to contribute to the growth of our players, both on and off the field. I look forward to building a winning culture alongside a dedicated coaching staff and helping our athletes reach their full potential."
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Quincy Griffith
"I'm incredibly excited to join Coach Woodley's Staff at Drake. Coach Woodley is a winner who values passion and toughness out of his football teams, and I'm thrilled for the opportunity to coach our players to be passionate and tough on and off the field. I'm excited to be back to my home of Central Iowa, working hard to represent Des Moines' college football team! Go Bulldogs!"
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Drew Adams
"It's an honor to join this coaching staff here at Drake University under Coach Woodley. I couldn't be more excited to get to know our players and get to work! I look forward to helping bring this great program to new heights. Go Bulldogs!"
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Seth Hestness
"I am extremely excited to be joining Coach Woodley's staff and the Drake Bulldog family. Coach Woodley values toughness, physicality, togetherness, and passion and I am excited to be part of the culture that Coach Woodley is bringing to Drake. I am also excited to be back in Iowa. The great state of Iowa embodies Coach Woodley's culture, and we are excited to recruit it."
 
 
ABOUT THE STAFF…
Kyle Kempt, Offensive Assistant – Offensive Coordinator – Quarterbacks
Playing Experience:
A native of Massillon, Ohio, Kempt came to Iowa State as a walk-on in 2016. He saw action in two games and entered the 2017 campaign deep on the Cyclone depth chart at quarterback. In the fifth game of the season, however, Kempt became an overnight sensation, leading the Cyclones to a 38-31 victory over No. 3 Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., in his first career start. He threw for 343 yards (18-of-24) and three touchdowns in one of the greatest wins in school history. He went on to tally a 5-3 record as a starter, leading the team to a national ranking, an 8-5 record and a victory in the Liberty Bowl. Kempt threw for 1,787 yards, tossed 15 touchdown passes and completed 66.3 percent of his passes, the third-best clip in school history. He is the only quarterback in Cyclone history to lead his team to a pair of wins over top-five opponents. Kempt received a sixth season of eligibility in 2018 and was named a team co-captain prior to the season. Unfortunately, a severe knee injury in the first game of the season derailed his last year on the team. Kempt graduated from Iowa State in 2018 with a pair of degrees in computer science and liberal arts. In 2022, he earned his master's degree in family and consumer sciences - youth development.
 
Coaching Experience:
Former Iowa State All-Big 12 quarterback Kyle Kempt spent six seasons on the Iowa State football staff (2019-24). Kempt was a quality control assistant in 2019, switched to graduate assistant for the offense prior to the 2020 season before returning to his quality control role for the 2023 season. In 2024 he served as quality control for the offensive pass game. In his six seasons, the Cyclones produced four of the most prolific offenses in the history of Cyclone football while appearing in five bowl games and two Big 12 Championship games. Iowa State broke the school record for total offense (444.3) and had the third-best scoring offense (32.2) in school history in 2019 and followed it up with the second-best scoring offense (32.9) and third-best total offense (436.3) totals in Cyclone history in 2020. During Kempt's time on staff, Iowa State posted a 45-32 record and recorded five of the school's eight winning league seasons in the 29-year history of the Big 12 Conference.
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Adam Cox, Defensive Assistant – Defensive Coordinator - Linebackers
Playing Experience:
Cox was a member of the University of I owa football team from 2011-2015. While in Iowa City, Cox helped the Hawkeyes win the Big Ten West Division crown in 2015 and reach the 2016 Rose Bowl.
 
Coaching Experience:
Cox started his coaching career in 2018 as a defensive assistant at Central Michigan. After two seasons as a Chippewa, and a MAC West Division championship in 2019, Cox moved back to Iowa City and joined the Hawkeye coaching staff as a defensive assistant. He was part of Big Ten West Division championship teams in 2021 and 2023. Most recently, Cox served as the safeties coach at Indiana State University in 2024.
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Joe Evans, Defensive Assistant – Defensive Line
Playing Experience:
Evans, a native of Ames, Iowa, played at the University of Iowa from 2018-2023. Evans was a team captain, two-time All-Big Ten performer, two-time Big Ten West Division champion, and finished fourth all-time on the program's career sacks list. Evans was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 where he played for a season as a member of the practice squad.
 
Coaching Experience:
This is Evans' first year as a collegiate football coach.
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Josh Manchigiah, Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs
Playing Experience:
Manchigiah played six seasons at South Dakota State University from 2016-21 before competing in his final year at the University of South Dakota in 2022. A four-year starter at safety, Manchigiah was a member of three national semifinalist and one national runner-up teams. He led the Missouri Valley Football Conference with four interceptions in 2020.

Coaching Experience:
Manchigiah's coaching journey started where his playing career ended: in Vermillion. He served as the Coyotes' Defensive Quality Control coach in 2023 before accepting a position as a Defensive Graduate Assistant at the University of Iowa in 2024. He helped guide the Coyotes to a 10-3 record in 2023 that included wins over top-ranked North Dakota State in Fargo and the No. 3 seed in the FCS Playoffs. At Iowa, Manchigiah aided the Hawkeyes in a Music City Bowl appearance while coaching All-Big Ten performers and potential NFL draft picks in Sebastian Castro and Jermari Harris.
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AJ Vasquez, Defensive Assistant – Outside Linebackers
Playing Experience:
Vasquez played linebacker at Grand View University from 2020-23. During his time as a Viking, Vasquez worked hard to contribute to the team's success, honing his defensive skills and learning the importance of teamwork and discipline. Vasquez experience as a player laid the foundation for my transition into coaching.
 
Coaching Experience:
After graduating, Vasquez returned to Grand View as a graduate assistant for two seasons from 2023-24, where he worked with the linebackers and defensive backs. In 2023 and 2024, the Viking defense was ranked first in the NAIA, and in 2024, allowed just 8.4 points per game, 219 yards per game, and only 73 rushing yards per game. That year, GVU went 14-0 and won the national championship, marking Grand View's second national title in program history an unforgettable achievement for the team and the program.
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Quincy Griffith, Offensive Line
Playing Experience:
Griffith was a four-year player at Wartburg College where he won two IIAC titles and was twice named an All-IIAC player.
 
Coaching Experience:
He started his coaching experience at the prep level as the Defensive Line coach at Carlisle High School. Griffith then moved up to the collegiate ranks as the Linebackers coach at Illinois Wesleyan University in 2018 and the Tight Ends coach at the University of Central Missouri in 2019. From 2020-22, Griffith served multiple roles on the coaching staff at Wayne State College in Nebraska. He moved back to Iowa in 2023 for a brief stint at Simpson College before jumping up to the University of Iowa as an Offensive Line Assistant for the most recent season. Griffith won conference championships in 2018 (CCIW), 2019 (MAIA), and 2022 (NSIC). While at Central Missouri, Griffith and the Mules' offense led all of NCAA Division II with 547 yards per game and 49 points per game. He coached tight end Zach Davidson, an eventual 5th-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, Griffith assisted in coaching the Big Ten's best offensive line and top rushing attack while instructing five All-Big Ten Conference offensive linemen.
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Drew Adams, Wide Receivers
Playing Experience:
Adams played quarterback at Grand View University from 2018-22. During his Viking playing career, Adams was a member of three conference championship teams and the 2021 national runner-up squad.
 
Coaching Experience:
Adams was an Offensive Graduate Assistant for the Vikings in 2022 and worked with the Vikings' wide receivers and quarterbacks. More recently, he was on staff at the Colorado School of Mines where he coached the Orediggers' tight ends. In 2023, Adams earned another national runner-up as a coach while at Colorado Mines while winning a conference title and logging a 14-win season.
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Seth Hestness, Offensive Assistant – Tight Ends
Playing Experience:
Hestness was a standout at the Division III level of NCAA football at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa from 2013-16. He was a three-year letter winner for the Knights and was a member of the 2014 IIAC Championship team that reached the NCAA quarterfinals. Hestness was selected to play in the Tazon de Estrellas, a Division III all-star game in Mexico.
 
Coaching Career:
Hestness also began his coaching career at his alma mater as the Knights' Tight Ends coach where he helped lead Wartburg to the 2017 NCAA quarterfinals. From there, Seth became the Tight Ends/Fullbacks and Special Teams Graduate Assistant at Liberty University where the Flames enjoyed their first winning season as an FBS program. His coaching career continued at the University of Minnesota as an Offensive G.A. where he instructed NFL players Daniel Faalele, John Michael Schmitz, Ko Kieft, Sam Schlueter, and Blaise Andries. More recently, Hestness was on staff at NDSU as an Offensive Quality Control coach before coaching tight ends and fullbacks for 2024 Co OVC-Big South Champion Tennessee State.