In 1952, Paul Brechler, who replaced Schroeder as Iowa's athletic director in 1947, searched for a new football coach. Fritz Crisler, the athletic director and former coach at Michigan, suggested that Brechler consider Forest Evashevski. Evy, as he was called, had played quarterback for both Michigan and the Iowa Navy Pre-Flight Seahawks. Evy was coaching at Washington State, but he wanted a head job in the Big Ten. Crisler did note, however, that Evy was tough and stubborn, which could eventually cause a problem.