Kelton Copeland - Analyst - Offense - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Kelton Copeland

Title:
Analyst - Offense
Email:
Phone:
864-3392

Kelton Copeland joined Kansas Football as an offensive analyst in July of 2024, after serving as the wide receivers coach at the University of Iowa since 2017.

Iowa posted an 8-5 record in 2022, concluding the season with a 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl and wins in five of its final six games. Iowa’s streak of 10 straight bowl invitations is the longest in school history and the Hawkeyes have been in the Top 25 final rankings in four of the last five seasons. Iowa’s streak of 10 straight winning seasons ranks 10th best in the nation.

Senior Nico Ragaini led Iowa’s wide receivers in 2022 with 34 receptions for 386 yards, increasing his career totals to 124 receptions for 1,352 yards. Ragaini will return in 2023 for a fifth season as a veteran among several younger players among the wide receivers. His totals a year ago came despite missing time in the early season due to injury.

The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, winning the Big Ten’s West Division title and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl and was ranked 23rd in the final national rankings.

Iowa closed the 2021 regular season with four straight victories to earn the West Division title and a berth in the league championship game for the second time since 2015. Iowa has earned 24 conference wins in the past four seasons, matching Iowa’s highest four-year conference win total since 2002-05.

Iowa’s offense in 2020 led the Big Ten in red zone offense (.917) and ranked second in scoring (31.8). The Hawkeyes scored at least 25 points in all six wins. Among wide receivers, senior Ihmir Smith-Marsette earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors (25-345-4 TDs), while senior Brandon Smith recorded 23 receptions for 231 yards and two scores. Smith-Marsette totaled over 1,600 career receiving yards and ranks 10th with 3,415 career all-purpose yards. Smith totaled over 1,000 career receiving yards.

Smith-Marsette was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Minnesota and concluded the 2022 season with the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Smith signed a free agent contract with Dallas immediately following the draft and signed a free agent contract with the Cardinals in 2023.

The Hawkeyes concluded the 2019 campaign with a 10-3 record following a 49-24 win over No. 22 Southern California in the Holiday Bowl. The three losses were all to ranked opponents by a combined 14 points. The Hawkeyes were 4-1 in trophy games for the third straight season.
Iowa completed the 2018 season with a 9-4 mark and a final ranking of 25th in the Associated Press. The Hawkeyes earned a 27-22 Outback Bowl win over No. 18 Mississippi State to close the season with three straight wins. The four losses came by a total of 23 points and all were decided in the final minutes of play. Iowa tied for second in the Big Ten West Division.

Senior wide receiver Nick Easley led Iowa with 52 receptions in 2018. He was named MVP of the 2019 Outback Bowl after grabbing eight receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Easley surpassed 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards in his two seasons under Copeland’s direction. He signed a free agent contract with Buffalo following the 2019 NFL Draft.

The Hawkeyes won eight games in 2017, including a 27-20 win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. In addition to the bowl victory the Hawkeyes won three of four rivalry trophy games while facing one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

Wide receiver Matt VandeBerg played his final two seasons under Copeland, returning from injury as a junior to record 28 receptions for 384 yards and two touchdowns in 2017. He had at least one reception in his final 32 games. His 134 career receptions rank 10th in school history and he ranks 17th in career receiving yards (1,686).

Copeland served as wide receivers coach and specials teams coordinator at Northern Illinois in 2016 after coaching the NIU running backs from 2013-15. Northern Illinois had a first team all-conference selection at both wide receiver and as return specialist while leading the conference in both kickoff returns and kickoff coverage in 2016.

He was on the staff at Coffeyville Community College from 2007-10, coaching wide receivers (2008-10) and the defensive secondary (2007). Coffeyville advanced to the Region IV playoffs in three different seasons, while boasting one of the top offenses in the Jayhawk Conference in 2010. Copeland was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Coffeyville prior to accepting the position at South Dakota.

Copeland coached defensive backs at Northwood University in 2006, helping Northwood reach the Division II playoffs. He was on the coaching staff at Emporia State University from 2003-05, coaching linebackers, running backs, and wide receivers, while also working with special teams. He also served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.

As a player at Emporia State from 1999-02, Copeland was the starting quarterback and a team captain for three seasons. He set school records for rushing yards by a quarterback in a season and career, leading the team in total offense as both a junior and senior. He ranked third all-time in total offense and fourth in passing yards following his final season.

A native of Miami, Florida, Copeland attended Southridge High School. He graduated from Emporia State University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in recreation.

Copeland was born June 9, 1980. He is married to the former Bridgette Eldridge, and the couple have three daughters, Marlea, Devyn and Kabryn.

Copeland’s Coaching Career
School – Position, Years
Kansas, Offensive Analyst – 2024-present
Iowa – Wide Receivers, 2017-2023
Northern Illinois – Wide Receivers, ST, 2016
Northern Illinois – Running Backs, 2013-15
South Dakota – Wide Receivers, 2011-12
Coffeyville CC – Wide Receivers, 2008-10
Coffeyville CC – Defensive Backs, 2007
Northwood University – Defensive Backs, 2006
Emporia State – Linebackers/Wide Receivers/Running Backs, 2003-05