Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser chose his bros before… you know the rest. Gus Johnson did not need to finish the rest of that sentence.
Fox Sports’ lead play-by-play announcer told a hilarious story about the Cyclones’ play-caller during their three-point win over their in-state rival on Saturday.
Mouser ultimately decided to stick with college football instead of his girlfriend. They broke up because he has too much love for the game and for head coach Matt Campbell. Sorry not sorry.
Who is Taylor Mouser?
At only 34 years old, Mouser is in his second season as the offensive coordinator in Ames. He has been with the program since 2016.
Campbell hired Mouser as a graduate assistant at Toledo in 2015. It was the former Adams State defensive lineman’s first job in coaching.
Mouser was hired to the same role at Iowa State just one year later, in 2016. And then the Cyclones hired Campbell as their 34th head football coach in program history on Nov. 27, 2017.
Campbell kept his former GA on staff and promoted him to the assistant recruiting coordinator as a scout. He later received another promotion in 2019 to a senior quality control position. He was then promoted to the tight ends coach in 2021, later to be named as the assistant head coach in 2023.
Mouser officially took over as the offensive coordinator at Iowa State in 2024. This is his second season in that role.
Bros before…
According to the Fox Big Noon broadcast, Taylor Mouser immediately hit it off with Matt Campbell when they first started working together at Toledo. The graduate assistant was not making very much money at the time (if any) so the head coach would give him his credit card to take his girlfriend out on dates.
Mouser’s girlfriend followed him to Iowa in 2017. They lived together for a year.
However, she was not prepared to spend the rest of her life in Ames as the wife and/or girlfriend of a college football coach. The lifestyle was too taxing on their relationship so she gave him an ultimatum.
Taylor Mouser could either stay at Iowa State and work for Matt Campbell or continue his relationship. His girlfriend was going to break up with him if he chose coaching over her.
Well, that is exactly what he did. In the words of Gus Johnson, Mouser chose his bros before…
— Mr. Salmons (@MrSalmons) September 6, 2025
The rest is history. God only knows what his ex-girlfriend is doing these days. I hope she is happy.
Meanwhile, Mouser is 3-0 in his second year as the offensive coordinator at a legit CFP contender.