Former Northwestern running back/safety and graduate assistant Louis Ayeni is returning to Evanston.
A source tells the Tribune the Iowa State associate head coach and running game coordinator will be joining Pat Fitzgerald’s staff as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Matt MacPherson will be shifting to coach cornerbacks and be the Wildcats’ special teams coordinator, the source said.
An official announcement is expected Monday.
Ayeni played for the Wildcats from 1999 to 2003, switching from running back to safety before his senior season. He helped Northwestern become Big Ten co-champions in 2000 and served as team captain in 2003.
After two seasons in the NFL, Ayeni joined the Northwestern staff as a graduate assistant from 2008-09 before joining Toledo’s staff in 2010 as running backs coach. He then joined the Cyclones’ staff in 2014.
[email protected] More Top Picks Smart Plug
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein