Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back John Nestor (7) poses for a portrait during Iowa Football’s 2024 media day at the Iowa Football practice field on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
CEDAR RAPIDS – You live in the Chicago area. You are moving to West Branch, Iowa.
Be prepared for a culture shock. An absolute culture shock.
“It’s a little different in every way, moving from the south side of Chicago to a town of 2,500 people,” John Nestor Sr. said with a laugh. “But it’s been good. Most people here have been very welcoming. Fifteen minutes down the road from Iowa City and my son, you can’t beat that.”
Nestor’s son, John Jr., is a rising defensive back for the University of Iowa football team. The sophomore was listed as the starting cornerback on the Hawkeyes’ roster released on media day a week and a half ago.
That doesn’t mean anything, of course. There’s still a lot of fall camp left, with the season opener not until August 31 at Kinnick Stadium against Illinois State.
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back John Nestor (7) celebrates with linebacker Karson Sharar (43) during a game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. The Hawkeyes defeated the Illini 15-13 to clinch the Big Ten West title. (Nick Rohlman/The Gazette)
But the kid has made an impression and should definitely be playing somewhere on the field: corner, the cash position. Comparisons are already being drawn (and probably dangerous) to the likes of Riley Moss of the Denver Broncos, a former Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the Year.
“There’s really no lineup right now,” Nestor Jr. said on media day. “We have competition every day… I knew the Riley Moss thing would come out at some point. Riley is obviously a great player. He won the Tatum-Woodson Award, unanimously, and now plays for the Denver Broncos. He’s such a respected name in our DB room, someone all the guys look up to.
“But I just try to be the person I am. I just try to do my job as well as I can every day.”
And mom and dad are right there with him.
Nestor Sr. is the new head coach of the West Branch High School football team. A longtime assistant with top Chicago teams such as Mount Carmel and Lincoln-Way, this is his first opportunity to lead a program.
He was alerted to the position by Pleasant Valley head coach Rusty VanWetzinga, whose son is a teammate of Nestor Jr. at Iowa. The head coaching job was enticing, as was the head coaching position at a traditional small school.
Being able to be so close to their son during his college playing career was a turning point for him and his wife, Rachele.
“This is really special, man,” Nestor Sr. said. “I played in the MAC at Miami of Ohio, and that was cool. But it’s pretty cool when your son plays in the Big Ten and does the things he does, man. I just take my football hat off. I’m a dad. Yes, I coach, but I’m a dad first and foremost.”
“I take the football cap off and just watch him, see his work ethic and the time he puts in, see him grow as a player and a person, just see what he’s doing there. He really turns heads. I’m kind of speechless.”
“It’s great to have them here,” Nestor Jr. said. “I love that my parents are so close… Especially for my dad to get the opportunity to be the head coach at a very prestigious and very powerful program in the state of Iowa. West Branch, I’m so happy for him. I know exactly what kind of coach he is because he’s been my coach since day one. He’s always been my mental coach and my physical coach. He’s the best that’s ever done it, a defensive coach, a great defensive mind. I’m so happy for him to see the kids develop under him.”
Nestor Sr. said he has tried to keep his distance from his son in one respect, letting him come to him when he wants to discuss something about football. But the door is always open, whether the son wants to talk about football or not.
Rachele’s kitchen is always open, too. The couple has a daughter who attends the University of Alabama and two younger sons who will attend school at West Branch.
“My wife cooks every night,” John Sr. said. “I’m blessed, lucky as far as that goes. Before camp, (John Jr.) was probably home three to four times a week. He loves the fact that we’re here. These Sunday dinners are definitely great. That first Sunday, I think he brought home three friends.”
“Home-cooked meals, talking to my parents, watching a movie on Sunday night,” John Jr. said. “It’s really great. It’s been so great since they moved here.”
And just like his fellow head coaches, Cedar Rapids Xavier head coaches Duane Schulte and Cedar Rapids Kennedy head coach Brian White, Nestor Sr. will attend every single one of his son’s games, whether they are in Iowa City or away.
“The next two or three years he’s there will fly by,” Nestor Sr. said. “But we’re going to enjoy being so close.”
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