2026 IHSAA football hall of fame honorees

One official and five former players will be honored at halftime of the Class 5A championship game, at the UNI-Dome and available to watch during the championship broadcast by statewide Iowa PBS.

The IHSAA began honoring the on- and off-field accomplishments of Iowa’s greatest high school football players in 1980. Players are nominated by member schools, then presented to a committee made up of Hall of Fame coaches, then taken to the IHSAA’s Board of Control.

Below is brief biographical information on each Hall of Fame selection. More on the selections will be available in the annual championship program, available for $5 at the UNI-Dome or $8 through the IHSAA office.

Class of 2026

IHSAA Football Hall of Fame

AJ Derby, Iowa City High

Derby was a first-team all-state quarterback for Iowa City High who led the Little Hawks to a 24-1 record over his final two seasons, including an undefeated Class 4A state championship season in 2009. He finished his high school career as the school’s all-time leader in touchdown passes and was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl following his senior season. He continued playing at the University of Iowa and Coffeyville Community College before transferring to Arkansas, where he changed positions from quarterback to tight end. The New England Patriots selected Derby in the 2015 NFL Draft, and he went on to play tight end for the Patriots, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and New Orleans Saints. He is now a business owner and lives in Florida with his wife, Calli, and daughters, Charlie and Chase.

Jesse Ertz, Mediapolis

Standout quarterback at Mediapolis (2009–12), Ertz finished his varsity career in 2012 with 9,453 yards of total offense and 136 touchdowns, including a then-state record 98 passing touchdowns. He led Mediapolis to a 13-1 record and a state runner-up finish in 2012, earning significant honors, including Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and honorable mention All-America honors from Parade. A multi-sport athlete, he also earned second-team all-state honors in basketball and won a state track and field title in the 4×100-meter relay. Ertz received a scholarship to play quarterback at Kansas State University (2013–17), where he recorded 4,084 yards of total offense, 30 touchdowns, and earned MVP honors in the 2016 Texas Bowl. He participated in the New Orleans Saints’ rookie minicamp in 2018. Ertz currently resides in Kansas City with his fiancée, Kathryn Drew, and serves as a Sports Medicine Sales Manager for Arthrex.

Phillip Hayman, Des Moines Lincoln

Hayman was a three-year letterman at Des Moines Lincoln (1969–71), where he earned three first-team All-Metropolitan Conference honors, two second-team all-state selections, and All-American recognition from Blue Chip and Kickoff Magazine in 1971. He finished his high school career with 3,417 rushing yards, including three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, 43 rushing touchdowns, and 300 points scored. Upon graduation, he held every rushing, total offense, and scoring record for the Railsplitters, several of which still stand today. Highly recruited by Division I programs as a three-sport athlete and eight-time letterwinner, Hayman chose to stay in Iowa and play for the Hawkeyes. He became Iowa’s starting fullback before a neck injury ended his football career in 1973. Following college, he turned his attention to tennis and currently works as a professional tennis coach, player development instructor, and pickleball consultant. He lives in Massachusetts with his partner Margaret Hart.

Josey Jewell, Decorah

A dominant linebacker and running back for Decorah (2010–12), Jewell made three trips to the UNI-Dome with the Vikings, helping them reach the Class 3A quarterfinals in 2010, finish as state runner-up in 2011, and win the state championship in 2012. He finished high school with 3,240 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns, earning two first-team all-state linebacker selections and Gazette-KCRG All-Area Football Player of the Year honors. He continued at the University of Iowa, where he was a two-year team captain and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Jack Lambert Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, and unanimous All-American honors in 2017. He finished his collegiate career with 437 tackles before being selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Jewell played linebacker for Denver from 2018–23 and spent his final NFL season with the Carolina Panthers. Today, he lives in Decorah with his wife, Micole, and their four children, Rohen, Cru, Layla, and Briggens.

Rusty Van Wetzinga, Pleasant Valley

Van Wetzinga was a three-year starting linebacker at Pleasant Valley, earning three all-conference and two all-state selections while helping the Spartans reach the state semifinals in 1990. By the end of high school, he was the school’s all-time leading tackler, the 189-pound state wrestling champion in 1992, and a three-time all-state baseball catcher. He went on to play all three sports at Augustana College, where he earned four first-team all-conference selections, two conference Defensive Player of the Year awards, and three first-team All-American honors in football. He played for the Quad City Steamwheelers and was part of the undefeated 19-0 season and AF2 ArenaCup championship in 2000. Van Wetzinga has spent 30 years teaching and coaching, including 20 seasons as Pleasant Valley’s head football coach with 14 postseason appearances. He lives in Bettendorf with his wife, Julie, and has two sons, Rusty IV and Joey.

IHSAA Officials Hall of Fame

Chris Ehlers

A longtime official across football, basketball, and softball, Ehlers has spent 35 years behind the whistle. On the football field, Ehlers and his crew appeared in the UNI-Dome 12 times, including six state football finals, with the most recent appearance in 2020. His basketball officiating resulted in more than 20 substate and regional finals, plus more than a dozen state tournaments with both boys and girls. Ehlers also officiated NAIA football and women’s basketball, including national championship and playoff assignments. Outside of officiating, Ehlers spent 35 years teaching middle school at Maple Valley, River Valley, and Denison before retiring from education in 2023. He currently works for Rural Community Insurance Services and lives in Mapleton. He has four children, Alex, Riley, Adam, and Avery, and three granddaughters.