Former Iowa football running back accepts new coaching position
That's a big reason why so many Hawkeyes find their way into the NFL and usually stick around longer than some may expect. But for those who weren't able to make it to the league, that knowledge doesn't evaporate. Some players use it to be involved with the game in a different aspect: coaching.
And this former Iowa football running back is the next in a great line of Hawkeyes turned into coaches.
Bemidji State University football announced on X that it had hired former Hawkeye running back Ivory Kelly-Martin to be its running backs coach for the 2025 season. Bemidji State is a Division II school located in Bemidji, Minnesota. They compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
Kelly-Martin played at Iowa from 2017-2021, appearing in 44 games. He had 181 carries for 804 yards and six rushing touchdowns in those 44 games. He spent a lot of time backing up Tyler Goodson and providing valuable snaps. While he wasn't a star at Iowa, Kelly-Martin was well respected by his teammates and coaching staff and was a true steward of the game. That was evident with his inclusion on the 2021 Players Council.
Before accepting this position with Bemidji State, Kelly-Martin was a graduate assistant running backs coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. With his Master's in Business Administration all finished up, he can now start his coaching career with the Bemidji State Beavers. Hawkeye fans wish Kelly-Martin the best of luck as the next chapter of his life begins.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Former Iowa football running back accepts new coaching position

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