COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Deon Broomfield joins the Nittany Lions as their defensive backs coach following a five-year stint coaching safeties at Iowa State.
- Broomfield, who has 10 seasons coaching defensive backs at the collegiate level, spent a season as a defensive assistant with the Houston Texans in 2020.
- During the 2025, Broomfield tutored third-team All-Big 12 safety Markus Neal, who emerged as one of the best defensive backs in the Big 12 Conference, tying for the team lead with 77 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, which lead all Big 12 defensive backs.
- Iowa State's 42 interceptions the last three seasons (2023-25) are tied for 11th-most nationally in that span.
- The Cyclone safeties were one of the nation's best collective units in 2024 with all three starters earning recognition from the Big 12 coaches, led by Malik Verdon being named an All-Big 12 second-team performer. Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler were honorable mention selections.
- The group played a significant role in what amounted to the greatest single season in program history. Iowa State posted an 11-3 overall record, the first double-digit win season for the school, and reached the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game for the second time.
- The defensive unit overcame multiple injuries and allowed just 22.9 points per game, holding opponents to fewer than 20 points in six games, which tied for the second-most games among Big 12 teams.
- The Cyclones were first nationally in passing defense, allowing just 165.6 yards per game, while also finishing 22nd nationally in interceptions.
- The Cyclones had 15 interceptions, including seven picks by the safety group. Freyler had a pair of interceptions and finished his career with six, while Verdon ended his Cyclone tenure with three.
- In 2023, Broomfield's safety group had 11 interceptions as the Cyclones finished with 16 as a team, which ranked 10th nationally and second in the Big 12 Conference.
- Cooper picked off five passes and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection, while Freyler added three interceptions and was a second-team All-Big 12 pick.
- Verdon was an honorable-mention All-Big 12 honoree and had two interceptions, as the safety group anchored a defensive unit that was second in the Big 12 in total defense (363.2) and third in scoring defense (22.8).
- The 2022 Cyclone defense was among the nation’s elite, leading the Big 12 Conference and ranking fourth nationally in total defense (285.6). The Cyclones were just the third unit in conference history to lead the league in total defense, scoring defense (20.2), rushing defense (107.3) and passing defense (178.2).
- Broomfield coached Anthony Johnson Jr. to second-team All-Big 12 honors after spending his first four seasons at cornerback. Freyler earned All-Big 12 honorable mention in his sophomore campaign.
- In his first season coaching the Cyclones, ISU qualified for the Cheez-It Bowl behind one of its best defenses in school history.
- ISU was third in the league in defensive scoring average (20.5) and was second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally in total defense (310.5), the lowest output by a Cyclone team since 1984. The Cyclones also led the league and ranked 11th nationally in passing defense (187.8).
- Three Cyclone safeties earned All-Big 12 recognition in 2021 in Isheem Young (second team), Greg Eisworth II (honorable mention) and Freyler (honorable mention).
- From 2017-19, Broomfield mentored the cornerbacks at Indiana State. Rondale Green was an All-MVC performer and Kaelub Newman ranked second in the MVFC and ninth nationally in forced fumbles (3) under his watch.
- He was the cornerbacks coach at Western Illinois in 2016 and the safeties coach at Carthage College (Wis.) in 2015.
PLAYING CAREER
- Broomfield was a standout defensive back for the Cyclones from 2010-13, tallying 133 tackles, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 16 pass breakups and three interceptions in his career.
- He spent the 2014 season as a member of the Buffalo Bills practice squad.
PERSONAL
- A native of Palm Bay, Florida, Broomfield earned his degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in family and child services from Iowa State in 2013.
- He and his wife, Kyla, have two sons, Ari and Rory.
THE BROOMFIELD FILE
Personal
Year at Penn State: 1st
Hometown: Palm Bay, Florida
Education: Iowa State, 2013 - B.L.S. Family and Child Services
Family: Wife: Kyla; Sons: Ari, Rory
Coaching Career
2026-: Penn State [Secondary]
2023-25: Iowa State [Pass Game Coordinator/Safeties]
2021-22: Iowa State [Safeties]
2020: Houston Texans [Defensive Assistant]
2017-19: Indiana State [Cornerbacks]
2016: Western Illinois [Cornerbacks]
2015: Carthage (Wis.) [Safeties]
Playing Experience
2009-13: Iowa State [Safety]
2014: Buffalo Bills [Safety]
Postseason as a Coach
2024: Pop-Tarts Bowl [Iowa State]
2023: AutoZone Liberty Bowl [Iowa State]
2021: Cheez-It Bowl [Iowa State]
Prominent Players Coached
Anthony Johnson Jr. [Iowa State]: New York Giants; 2023 seventh-round pick
Darien Porter [Iowa State]: Las Vegas Raiders; 2025 third-round pick
Ben Nikkel [Iowa State]: Indianapolis Colts
T.J. Tampa [Iowa State]: Baltimore Ravens; 2024 fourth-round pick
Malik Verdon [Iowa State]: Atlanta Falcons