Rhett Mizer returns for his sixth season as an assistant coach with the Peacock football program in 2026 and his third season as the defensive coordinator. Mizer started with the Peacocks as a graduate assistant in 2019 before being promoted to a full-time assistant coach for defensive backs in 2021.
He made the switch to linebackers in 2022-23 before earning the defensive coordinator title in 2024. During his first season in the role, Mizer helped lead the Peacocks to a 7-4 record while going 6-2 in the GLVC. In 2025, the Peacocks won the most games in program history with a 9-3 record. The 16 wins in 2024-25 marked the most wins in back-to-back seasons in program history.
Mizer came to Upper Iowa from Bethany College where he graduated in December of 2018 with a Bachelor’s Degree in sports management and was a four-year starter on their football team. Mizer succeeded both on and off the field at Bethany College as he posted an impressive 3.96 cumulative GPA and ended his career as the Bison all-time and single season leading tackler while playing safety.
Additionally, Mizer was selected as All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference three times in his career, and was selected as the team MVP his junior season and served as a team captain during his senior season.
