By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The running backs on the Iowa football team would be wise to watch some video of their new position coach playing running back for the Hawkeyes.

Watch how many times Ladell Betts makes something out of nothing, how many times he breaks tackles and how much pounding that he takes.

No disrespect to the offensive lines that Betts ran behind at Iowa, but they often were overmatched, especially early in his career.

Betts led a 3-8 Iowa team in rushing as a redshirt freshman in 1998 with 679 yards, a 1-10 team in rushing in 1999 with 857 yards, a 3-9 team in rushing in 2000 with 1,090 yards, and a 7-5 team in rushing in 2001 with 1,060 yards.

The Blue Springs, Mo., native had some spectacular 4- and 5-yard runs where just making it past the line of scrimmage was an achievement.

Betts was recruited to Iowa by Hayden Fry, and he played his redshirt freshman season under Fry in 1998.

Kirk Ferentz then replaced Fry as head coach in 1999, and Betts helped lay the foundation under Ferentz, but it wasn’t easy.

Iowa lost 18 of its first 20 games under Ferentz, but to no fault of Betts as he provided a consistent and reliable weapon at running back.

And now Betts is returning to his alma mater two decades later as Iowa’s new running backs coach.

He had been coaching high school football in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, so this will be a significant jump from a career standpoint.

Most high school coaches probably wouldn’t be given this chance, but Ladell Betts isn’t like most high school coaches, especially where Iowa is concerned.

Kirk Ferentz knows and respects Betts, and admires him for how he conducted himself on and off the field as a Hawkeye.

Iowa finally had a respectable offensive line when Betts was a senior in 2001, because by that point, the young offensive linemen who once had struggled were bigger and stronger and were starting to figure things out in the trenches.

Betts didn’t get to play in his final game as a Hawkeye, however, as an injury kept him out of Iowa’ 19-16 victory over Texas Tech in the 2001 Alamo Bowl.

But Betts was a big reason why Iowa made it to a bowl game that season, and now he’s back to help his alma mater win football games again, only in a different role.

Betts takes over a talented group of running backs led by junior Tyler Goodson, who made first-team All-Big Ten last season.

Junior Ivory Kelly-Martin also has been a starter for the Hawkeyes, and when healthy, is a proven playmaker.

Iowa also has a new offensive line coach with George Barnett having replaced Tim Polasek, so it will be different in some ways.

But with Ladell Betts, Iowa has a coach whose background demands respect and earns him instant credibility with the current players.

So again, the current Iowa running backs should watch video of Betts playing for the Hawkeyes to truly appreciate what he accomplished in college under tough circumstances.

Betts also played nine seasons in the NFL, adding to his credibility.

But it’s what he did at Iowa, how he did it, and when he did it that makes Betts truly special.

He helped pave the way for Kirk Ferentz to have success, and now Ferentz is turning to Betts once again to help Iowa sustain success.