Taylor Mouser - Football Coach - Iowa State Athletics

Taylor Mouser

Title:
Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Email:
tmouser@iastate.edu
Phone:
515-294-6721

Taylor Mouser spent 10 seasons (2016-25) on the Cyclone football staff, including two as offensive coordinator. He also coached the Cyclone tight ends for five seasons and was named FootballScoop.com's National Tight End Coach of the Year in 2025.

Known for his penchent to chip in wherever necessary, Mouser wore many hats as a member of the Iowa State football coaching staff.

Starting out as a graduate assistant, Mouser worked in the scouting department and then moved into a role as senior quality control for the Cyclone offense in 2019.

From 2019-25, Iowa State produced some of the most prolific offenses in Cyclone football history. 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.

In 2021, the Cyclones recorded the fourth-best scoring average (31.3) and the fifth-best total offense (424.5), respectively, in program history. ISU also ranked second nationally in red zone offense, converting on 47-of-49 trips for a 95.9 pct. clip to help the Cyclones earn their school-record fifth-straight bowl appearance.

The 2023 Cyclone offense led the nation in big plays, scoring 11 touchdowns of 50-plus yards. The Cyclones again were among the Top 10 nationally in the red zone with a 93.5 percent clip, converting on 31-of-33 trips and ranking first in the Big 12 and seventh nationally. ISU went on to earn a trip to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

His tight end group combined for seven touchdown receptions by four different players. ISU was one of seven teams nationally with at least four tight ends with a TD reception.

Benjamin Brahmer was a Freshman All-American (247Sports and The Athletic) under his tutelage in 2023, breaking the ISU freshman tight end record with 28 receptions and two touchdowns. Stevo Klotz earned the first of two career All-Big 12 second-team honors from the league's coaches at the fullback position.

Mouser's first season running the offense as the offensive coordinator was in 2024 and the team had a record-setting season. The Cyclones finished 11-3, reaching double-digit victories for the first time in program history, and reached the Big 12 Championship game after going 7-2 in conference action. Iowa State capped the season with a thrilling 42-41 win against No. 15 Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Cyclones were ranked No. 15 in the final AP Top 25, the second-highest ranking to end a season in school history.

Under his guidance, the offense averaged 31.1 points per game, the fifth-most in school history. The Cyclones used a balanced attack, throwing for 25 touchdowns and rushing for 27 TDs, both the fourth-best totals the program has ever produced.

Mouser leaned on two of the best wide receivers in the nation as quarterback Rocco Becht connected with Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel for a combined 167 receptions, 2,377 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns. Higgins was named a Third-Team All-American and Noel was one of seven offensive players to be recognized by the Big 12 Conference coaches. Tight end Stevo Klotz was an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection.

In 2025, Iowa State finished 8-4 as it won eight games for just the 13th time in program history, but the fifth time with Mouser on staff. The Cyclone offense had to replace NFL caliber receivers and it was Mouser's tight end group that stepped into the role. Brahmer led Cyclone receivers with 37 receptions and six touchdowns, earning Second Team All-Big 12 accolades. Gabe Burkle missed the final three games of the season but still finished with 26 receptions for 302 yards and one score as the pair became the first ISU tight end duo to have 25 receptions in the same season since 2021 when Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen did so.

Mouser has assisted a number of other All-Americans and All-Big 12 performers to unprecedented success working with the offense as well. Running back Breece Hall, who led the nation in rushing in 2020, became the first unanimous All-American in school history, Kolar, ISU’s only three-time All-American, and quarterback Brock Purdy, who graduated owning/sharing 32 school records, all have benefited from Mouser’s expertise.

The Cyclones have also set the following school records in the last five seasons with Mouser aiding the offense: touchdowns (53, 2019), points (418, 2019), yards per play (6.45, 2019) and rushing touchdowns (31, 2020).

In his first season as tight ends coach in 2021, Mouser tutored a pair of All-Big 12 performers in Kolar and Chase Allen.

Kolar broke ISU tight end single-season records in receptions (62) and receiving yards (756) while earning All-America honors for an unprecedented third-straight season in 2021. The 2021 winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy, Kolar is the greatest tight end in school history. His career totals in receptions (168), receiving yards (2,181) and touchdown catches (23) are the most by a Cyclone tight end and rank in the Top 5 on ISU’s overall career record lists. He also was a three-time Academic All-American.

Allen was an All-Big 12 second team recipient for the fourth time in 2021, leaving Iowa State with the sixth-most catches (74) and receiving yards (810) by a tight end in school history.

Kolar was a fourth-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, while Allen signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. Both players made their NFL debuts during their rookie season.

In all, Mouser played a huge role in Iowa State's resurgence nationally since joining the staff prior to the 2016 season. The Cyclones qualified for bowl games in eight of 10 seasons, regularly appeared in the national rankings and produced eight of ISU’s nine above-.500 conference seasons in the history of the Big 12 Conference (1996-present) since 2017.

A native of Chandler, Arizona, Mouser earned his bachelor’s degree at Adams State in 2013. He was a graduate assistant for Campbell at Toledo during the 2015 campaign.

Coaching Experience
2024-25 - Iowa State - Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
2023 - Iowa State - Tight Ends/Assistant Head Coach
2021-22 - Iowa State - Tight Ends
2019-20 - Iowa State – Senior Quality Control/Offense
2017-18 - Iowa State – Assistant Director of Scouting
2016 - Iowa State – Graduate Assistant
2015 - Toledo – Graduate Assistant