Polizzi long admired the Hawkeye program after concluding his tenure as a graduate assistant, and is excited to lead new-look Iowa special teams unit.
A popular tradition among University of Iowa students is visiting the Dairy Queen on Riverside Drive during the warmer months of the school year.
Students will often form long lines that stretch to the busy road and enjoy their ice cream treats on the banks of the Iowa River.
This has nothing to do with Iowa football, or does it? It's probably common for Hawkeye football players to visit the store during the hot summer months after a long day of training camp, and new special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi applied it to his special teams room.
"I'd say there's nobody out of the competition at this point. You should see the line for the Jugs machine, it's like when the Diary Queen down on Riverside opens up, that line is down around the corner. It's a long and distinguished line of guys that are working towards it," Polizzi said.
What Polizzi is referring to is the long list of names that could replace Kaden Wetjen as Iowa's kick and punt returner in 2026. It's a major role to fill, especially considering Wetjen won back-to-back Jet Awards and even played a key role in deciding the outcome of many of the Hawkeyes' victories during his tenure.
Some of the names that Polizzi mentioned were defensive backs Zach Lutmer and Jaylen Watson, running back Brevin Doll, and wide receivers KJ Parker and Reece Vander Zee.
A clearer picture may be revealed during Iowa's open spring practice on Saturday, which is what Polizzi and the other coaches hope to get out of it, but that's not the only reason why Polizzi looks forward to taking the field.
Polizzi, a Massachusetts native, had no prior connection to Iowa until 2012, when he was hired as a graduate assistant on Kirk Ferentz's staff. The stint lasted three years, after which Polizzi moved around the country to various jobs.
Even after leaving Iowa City, Polizzi always hoped he'd get the opportunity to return to the Hawkeyes. That hope became a reality in 2025 when he joined Iowa's staff as a defensive analyst.
When then-special teams coordinator LeVar Woods left the Hawkeyes to take a job with Michigan State after the season, Polizzi was the man to replace him and now gets to work for the program he'd long admired.
"All he [Ferentz] does is collect great people in and around the program and people that obviously stay for long periods of time because they respect the opportunity to work in such an environment," Polizzi said.
Outside of finding a new kick returner, Polizzi also has other question marks within his group. Stalwart kicker Drew Stevens graduated, which leaves an open spot for either North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick or returning redshirt freshman Caden Buhr.
According to Polizzi, the competition for these spots could last until Iowa's first game against Northern Illinois.
"We have a lot of work to do," he said.
Preparing for a football season is always a tedious time for coaches, but there's few coaches happier to be doing their jobs than Polizzi. The standard for great Hawkeye special teams has been set, and Polizzi is determine to continue it in 2026 and beyond.
"When my hand hits the door handle here in this building, I absolutely love it, and I can't say that that's the same in a lot of other places. I can't wait to be here. I can't wait to work with these players. I can't wait to be in this building," Polizzi said. "I really enjoyed my time here and just looking forward to the opportunity to continue to pour into these kids all the life lessons that I've had the opportunity to experience."
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io