Throughout the Browns' search for a new head coach, associate editor and staff writer Kelsey Russo will break down the candidates as they go through the interview process with the team. Next, let's look at Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
1) Scheelhaase earned his first full-time NFL coaching job with the Rams in 2024 when he was hired as an offensive assistant and pass game specialist. He spent the first nine years of his coaching career at collegiate programs. Scheelhaase began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Illinois, in 2015.
2) During Scheelhaase's first season with the Rams as an offensive assistant and pass game specialist, QB Matthew Stafford posted the fifth-best completion percentage of his career at 65.8 percent and moved into the top 10 in NFL history in completions (5,174), passing yards (59,809) and touchdown passes (377).
3) His longest collegiate stint came at Iowa State where he spent six seasons, first as a running backs coach in 2018. He then was the wide receivers coach from 2019-20 before serving as the running game coordinator/running backs and wide receivers coach for 2021-22. He was then promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2023 season – his first coordinator position.
4) Scheelhaase was listed in 247Sports' "30Under30" as one of the top rising coaches in 2019. In his first season as the receivers coach at Iowa State, he mentored All-Big 12 WR Deshaunte Jones, who finished the season with 76 catches – the second-highest mark in school history – for 877 yards – the eighth best in program history.
5) While playing at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo., Scheelhaase won the 2008 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year during his junior year. That season, Scheelhaase led Rockhurst to a 13–0 season, and a Missouri Class-6 state championship passing for 1,861 yards, 20 touchdowns and only five interceptions. On the ground he also rushed 120 times for 917 yards and 14 touchdowns. Scheelhaase was ranked as the seventh best dual-threat quarterback on Rivals.com and went on to play quarterback at Illinois from 2009-13.
