Kirk Ferentz

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Kirk Ferentz
Kirk Ferentz.jpg
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamIowa
ConferenceBig Ten
Record171–106
Annual salary$4.5 million
Biographical details
Born (1955-08-01) August 1, 1955 (age 66)
Royal Oak, Michigan
Playing career
1974–1976Connecticut
Position(s)Linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1977Connecticut (GA)
1978–1979Worcester Academy (OL/DC)
1980Pittsburgh (GA)
1981–1989Iowa (OL)
1990–1992Maine
1993–1995Cleveland Browns (OL)
1996Baltimore Ravens (OL)
1997–1998Baltimore Ravens (AHC/OC)
1999–presentIowa
Head coaching record
Overall183–127
Bowls9–8
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 Big Ten (2002, 2004)
1 Big Ten West Division (2015)
Awards
AP College Football COY (2002)
Walter Camp Coach of the Year (2002)
4× Big Ten Coach of the Year (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015)
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (2015)
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, Football Writers Association of America (2015)
Region 3 Coach of the Year (American Football Coaches Association) (2015)
Woody Hayes Coach of the Year (2015)
Football Guy Of the Week (2018)

Kirk James Ferentz (born August 1, 1955) is an American football coach. He is the current head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since the 1999 season. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the University of Maine, where he had a record of 12-21. He has also served as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Ferentz played college football as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut from 1974 to 1976. Since 2017, he has been the longest tenured FBS coach with one program, and as of September 2018, is the all-time wins leader at Iowa.

Background[]

After playing football at Upper St. Clair High School near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ferentz played linebacker for the University of Connecticut. He was a football captain and an academic all-Yankee Conference linebacker at Connecticut. He served as a student assistant at Connecticut in 1977 and graduated in 1978. Ferentz spent his next two seasons as defensive coordinator at Worcester Academy, where he taught English literature. He then spent one season in 1980 as an assistant offensive line coach at the University of Pittsburgh. The 1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football team, coached by Jackie Sherrill, finished with an 11–1 record and a number two national ranking.

Ferentz was the offensive line coach at the University of Iowa under head coach Hayden Fry for nine seasons, from 1981 to 1989. Eleven Hawkeyes coached by Ferentz went on to play in the National Football League (NFL). Three of them were first round picks in the NFL draft, and five of his players were first team All-Big Ten Conference selections. Six of those players played over 100 games in the NFL: OG Ron Hallstrom, OG Mark Bortz, OT Brett Miller, C Joel Hilgenberg, OT John Alt, and OG Bob Kratch. OG Mike Haight played in 63 games as well.

Ferentz left Iowa to coach at the University of Maine in 1990. After three seasons of coaching the Black Bears to a combined 12–21 record, he was named the offensive line coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns. Ferentz served under Bill Belichick in Cleveland and followed the franchise to Baltimore when they became the Baltimore Ravens.

Iowa head coaching career[]

On December 2, 1998, Ferentz was hired as Iowa's 26th head football coach to replace the retiring Hayden Fry.[1] The team struggled during Ferentz's first two seasons with a combined 4–19 record, but the Hawkeyes earned their first bowl bid of the Ferentz era after a 7–5 season in 2001. They beat Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl, 19–16.

The 2002 season would prove to be memorable for Ferentz and the Hawkeyes. The team finished the regular season with an 11–1 record; its only loss coming to Iowa State. They shared the Big Ten Conference championship with Ohio State, as both teams finished 8–0 in conference play. Quarterback Brad Banks won the Davey O'Brien Award for best quarterback and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting to Carson Palmer of USC. Tight end Dallas Clark was that season's John Mackey Award winner, and placekicker Nate Kaeding was the Lou Groza Award winner. Ferentz was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press for his efforts. Iowa received its first-ever BCS invitation, losing to USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl, 38–17.

Despite losing several seniors to graduation, the Hawkeyes compiled a 9–3 regular season record in 2003. They defeated Florida 37–17 in the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2004, for their first January win since 1959. This earned the Hawkeyes a #8 national ranking in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll at the end of the season. Offensive tackle Robert Gallery was that season's Outland Trophy winner; after the season, the Oakland Raiders chose him with the second overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

Ferentz had to deal with multiple injuries to the Hawkeyes' running backs and the death of his father, John, during the 2004 season. Nevertheless, the Hawkeyes compiled a 9–2 regular season record, sharing the Big Ten Conference championship with Michigan after a 30–7 victory over Wisconsin on November 20. For the second time in three seasons, Ferentz was named the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year. On January 1, 2005, they defeated LSU, 30–25, after a thrilling 56-yard touchdown pass from Drew Tate to Warren Holloway as time expired in the Capital One Bowl. This gave Ferentz his third straight ten-win season with the Hawkeyes and another #8 national ranking.

The Hawkeyes went 7–4 during the 2005 regular season. After early-season losses to Iowa State and Ohio State and close losses to Michigan and Northwestern, they finished the season with wins over Wisconsin and Minnesota to earn a second trip to the Outback Bowl to face Florida on January 2, 2006. This time, however, the Gators got a measure of revenge for their loss two years earlier, as the Hawkeyes lost to Florida, 31–24. Much was said about the officiating in this game, as there were 13 missed or bad calls made against the Hawkeyes that directly influenced the outcome. The NCAA made an official acknowledgment of this issue.

Iowa started the 2006 season strong, winning their first four games before losing to top-ranked Ohio State. After a 5–1 start, however, the Hawkeyes collapsed down the stretch, losing five of their last six games. Iowa suffered shocking losses to Northwestern and Indiana and lost rivalry games with Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes finished the regular season with a 6–6 record and accepted an invitation to the 2006 Alamo Bowl, Iowa's sixth straight bowl game. Playing as nine-point underdogs to defending national champions Texas, Iowa lost the Alamo Bowl by a score of 26–24.

In 2007, Ferentz' Hawkeyes started 2–4 and lost their first three conference games. An upset victory over Illinois ended a nine-game conference losing streak for Iowa, and the Hawkeyes closed out the Big Ten season by winning their last three conference games. However, a disappointing loss in the season finale to Western Michigan dropped the Hawkeyes' season record to 6–6. Though Iowa was bowl-eligible, the Hawkeyes did not receive a bowl bid, snapping Iowa's streak of six consecutive bowl appearances.

In 2008, Ferentz and the Hawkeyes started out strong with victories over his old team, Maine, Florida International, and rival Iowa State, but close losses to Pitt, Northwestern, and Michigan State left Iowa with a 3–3 record. Iowa then went on to win five of their next six games, including a 24–23 upset of #3 ranked and undefeated Penn State. After finishing the regular season at 8–4, Iowa accepted an invitation to the Outback Bowl where they defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks, 31–10.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and Ohio State coach Jim Tresseltalk on the field before their teams played on November 14, 2009.
Ferentz and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel talk on the field before their teams played on November 14, 2009.

The 2009 Hawkeye football team got off to the best start in school history up to that point. Narrow home victories over Northern Iowa and Arkansas State coupled with double digit road wins over Penn State and Wisconsin fueled a 7–0 start. Ferentz' 2009 Hawks became the first Iowa team to win eight games to start a season by winning at Michigan State, 15–13, with a touchdown pass on the final play of the game. After defeating Indiana to run their record to 9–0, the Hawks lost quarterback Ricky Stanzi to injury in an upset loss to Northwestern. Iowa then lost the de facto Big Ten championship game at Ohio State, 27–24, in overtime. The Hawkeyes shut out Minnesota, 12–0, to finish the regular season with a 10–2 record and were selected for their second BCS bowl game under Ferentz by being invited to the 2010 Orange Bowl. Iowa defeated Georgia Tech, 24–14, to earn the school's first BCS bowl win and their first victory in a BCS-level bowl since the 1959 Rose Bowl. Iowa finished with an 11–2 record that tied the school record for victories in a season and the Hawkeyes earned #7 rankings in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, their highest finish since the 1960 season.[2]

Following three mediocre seasons in which Iowa went just a combined 19-19 and a humbling defeat in the Taxslayer Bowl, the 2015 season proved to be one of the best in university history. The program had become stagnant and predictable. Ferentz implemented new, spontaneous play calls and techniques that were dubbed "New Kirk" by fans and media alike. Iowa went undefeated in the regular season and recorded 12 wins, the most in school history. Additionally, a team that went 0–4 in trophy games the year before, went 4-0 and won the Big Ten Conference West championship, the first in school history. Ferentz was also named Big Ten coach of the year for the fourth time while at Iowa. The Hawkeyes fell 16–13 in the 2015 Big Ten Football Championship Game against Michigan State. Despite the loss, the Hawkeyes accepted an invitation to the 2016 Rose Bowl, Ferentz's third Rose Bowl with Iowa, first as head coach, and it marks the first trip to Pasadena for the Hawkeyes in 25 years. In the Rose Bowl, the Hawkeyes were throttled, 45–16, by a Christian McCaffrey led Stanford team. With their latest Rose Bowl defeat, the Hawkeyes fell to 0–4, with a combined score of 164–78, since their last victory in 1959.

In 2016, Iowa suffered numerous injuries which derailed them in the earlier part of the season. However, they finished strong beating #3 Michigan, and prevailed over #16 Nebraska, finishing with an 8–4 record. The Iowa offensive line was awarded the Joe Moore Award. This award was especially significant because Moore was a lifelong mentor to Ferentz, and the team had to overcome a great deal to win it. Iowa was selected to play in the Outback Bowl for the fifth time under Ferentz, where they lost to the Florida Gators 30–3. Following the loss to the Gators the Hawkeyes fell to 0–5 in their last five bowl games, getting outscored 172–75 in those contests.

The 2017 season was almost a carbon copy of the previous season. Iowa got off to a great start but was again plagued with several injuries. The team went undefeated in non-conference play and all but two of their Big Ten losses were by just one score (38-14 vs. Wisconsin, 24-15 vs. Purdue). Like the prior season, Iowa went 3–1 in trophy games, and finished with eight wins. They were also able to beat #3 Ohio State for the first time since 2004. Iowa played in the Pinstripe Bowl, the 15th bowl under Ferentz. After trailing early, the Hawkeyes dominated the second half and won their first bowl game since 2010. The victory tied Hayden Fry in Iowa career wins (143), and surpassed his number of bowl wins at the university.

The 2018 season will be remembered for close Big Ten Conference losses that cost the Hawkeyes another trip to Indianapolis. Iowa started strong, winning its three non-conference games, and once again was able to keep three of the four rivalry trophies in Iowa City. However, losses to Penn State, Purdue and Northwestern in consecutive weeks defined the season. Iowa played in the Outback Bowl for the sixth time, holding on to defeat Mississippi State 27-22 for Ferentz's fifth January bowl win and eighth overall bowl victory.

2019 was overall a great year for Iowa. The Hawkeyes started 4–0, and went undefeated against non-conference opponents. After back-to-back losses against Big Ten powerhouses Michigan and Penn State it looked like it could be a lost season for the team. Iowa rallied, winning five of their last six games but yet another loss to archrival Wisconsin meant that a Big Ten West division title eluded the program. The Hawkeyes played in the Holiday Bowl against USC. In the first match-up between the Trojans and Hawkeyes since the 2003 Orange Bowl Iowa outplayed USC in a shootout 49–24. The victory gave the program ten wins for the sixth time under Ferentz. The team was also able to accomplish a distinction that hadn't been done since 1991, they both started and finished the season in the top 25 national rankings without dropping out.

On June 6, 2020, Ferentz placed strength coach Chris Doyle on paid administrative leave after a number of former players identified Doyle and Brian Ferentz as contributing to a program culture that was hostile toward black student-athletes. On June 15, Doyle was released from the program after a 21-year stint.[3][4] On July 27, 2020, ESPN published an article citing instances of racial inequities levied against black players throughout Ferentz's tenure as a head coach. One former player, Dace Richardson, was quoted saying "I've talked with guys and they talked about how they were made to conform to what Coach Ferentz wanted or what they expected white players to be like, we had a lot of guys on our team that had personalities and they weren't allowed to be their natural selves. I never had issues with that because I kind of just conformed to what the team wanted."[5]

In the COVID-19-shorted 2020 season, they won six games, and went 3-0 in trophy contests, defeating Wisconsin for the first time since 2015. Ferentz tested positive for COVID-19 on December 18, 2020.[6] The Hawkeyes were scheduled to play in the Music City Bowl, which would have been the first time Iowa had played Missouri since 10 years prior in the 2010 Insight Bowl. However, the game was cancelled three days prior to the match-up over virus concerns.

Ferentz notched his 100th career win at Iowa with a double-overtime victory over the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing on October 13, 2012. He became the all-time wins leader in school history, (144) with a victory over Northern Illinois on September 1, 2018, and has led Iowa to 17 bowl games, more bowls than any other Iowa coach. Later that season Ferentz recorded his 150th Iowa career win with a blowout triumph over Big Ten foe Illinois on November 17, 2018. When Joe Paterno was fired from Penn State in 2011 Ferentz became the dean of Big Ten football coaches, as the longest tenured coach in the respective sport. With the retirement of Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer after the 2015 season, Ferentz became tied with Bob Stoops for the longest tenured head coach at the FBS level. In June 2017, Ferentz became the longest tenured coach with the sudden retirement of Bob Stoops.

Professional football opportunities[]

Several major college and NFL teams have considered Ferentz as a candidate for their head coaching jobs. However, Ferentz has publicly declined any interest in other coaching positions, opting to stay at Iowa. On February 12, 2009, Ferentz and Iowa athletics director Gary Barta agreed to a new contract extension that keeps Ferentz at Iowa until 2020.[7]

On January 2, 2006 the head coaches of five NFL teams, Green Bay, St. Louis, Houston, New Orleans, and Minnesota, were fired. There was renewed speculation that Ferentz would be offered a head coaching job with one of those professional franchises. But such speculation was soon put to rest when Ferentz stated that he was still happy with his job at Iowa, and that he had no plans to leave.[8]

On June 2, 2006, Ferentz became the highest paid coach in the Big Ten and third highest in college football when he was given a restructured contract that boosted his annual salary to $2.7 million.[9]

Following the 2006 NFL season, rumors circulated that Ferentz may have been in consideration for the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coaching job after Bill Cowher stepped down. However, before Cowher's departure, Ferentz was asked about his possible interest in the position, and stated: "I know that staff pretty well and they've got some good guys in that building. My guess is that's where they would go. But I'm not interested, and I doubt they are, either. I've got a great job right here."[10] The Steelers job eventually went to Mike Tomlin.

In 2008, Ferentz was again rumored to be a candidate for an NFL head coaching job, particularly as successor to Romeo Crennel for the Cleveland Browns.[11]

In January 2009, rumors surfaced citing Ferentz as a potential candidate to be hired as head coach in place of Herman Edwards soon after the hiring of former New England Patriots VP of Player Personnel Scott Pioli as the new GM of the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the Chiefs eventually hired Todd Haley, and Ferentz received a contract extension to remain at Iowa through 2020. In December 2011, rumors again surfaced citing Ferentz as a potential candidate to replace Haley. Similar rumors surfaced a year later in December 2012. Ferentz has said that there was no reason to leave Iowa as Iowa has everything he needed.

In 2016 he signed an extension through the 2026 season.[12] He is currently the 18th highest-paid coach[13] in college football.

Personal life[]

Ferentz and his wife, Mary, have five children: Brian, Kelly, Joanne, James, and Steven.[14] Brian was a starting offensive lineman on the 2005 Iowa football team, a practice squad player for the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. Since the 2012 season, Brian has served as the offensive line coach for Iowa. In January 2017, Brian was named the offensive coordinator.[15] From 2008 – 2011, Brian was a coach for the New England Patriots, including one record-breaking season as Tight Ends Coach.[16] James was a second team All-Big Ten center in 2012.[17] Additionally, James became a Super Bowl Champion with the Denver Broncos following the 2015 season and again following the 2018 season with the New England Patriots. Kelly earned her J.D. and M.H.A. degrees from Iowa in 2010–11 and Joanne earned her bachelor's degree from Iowa in 2010.[18] Steven graduated in 2017 and was a member of the football team[19][20][21] he is now an offensive quality control coach with the Miami Dolphins.[22]

Head coaching record[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Maine Black Bears (Yankee Conference) (1990–1992)
1990 Maine 3–8 2–6 T–7th
1991 Maine 3–8 2–6 T–7th
1992 Maine 6–5 4–4 T–5th
Maine: 12–21 8–16
Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten Conference) (1999–present)
1999 Iowa 1–10 0–8 11th
2000 Iowa 3–9 3–5 8th
2001 Iowa 7–5 4–4 T–4th W Alamo
2002 Iowa 11–2 8–0 T–1st L Orange† 8 8
2003 Iowa 10–3 5–3 T–4th W Outback 8 8
2004 Iowa 10–2 7–1 T–1st W Capital One 8 8
2005 Iowa 7–5 5–3 T–3rd L Outback
2006 Iowa 6–7 2–6 T–8th L Alamo
2007 Iowa 6–6 4–4 T–5th
2008 Iowa 9–4 5–3 T–4th W Outback 20 20
2009 Iowa 11–2 6–2 T–2nd W Orange† 7 7
2010 Iowa 8–5 4–4 T–4th W Insight
2011 Iowa 7–6 4–4 4th (Legends) L Insight
2012 Iowa 4–8 2–6 T–5th (Legends)
2013 Iowa 8–5 5–3 T–2nd (Legends) L Outback
2014 Iowa 7–6 4–4 4th (West) L TaxSlayer
2015 Iowa 12–2 8–0 1st (West) L Rose† 10 9
2016 Iowa 8–5 6–3 T–2nd (West) L Outback
2017 Iowa 8–5 4–5 T–3rd (West) W Pinstripe
2018 Iowa 9–4 5–4 T–2nd (West) W Outback 25
2019 Iowa 10–3 6–3 3rd (West) W Holiday 15 15
2020 Iowa 6–2 6–2 2nd (West) CX Music City 15 16
2021 Iowa 3–0 1–0
Iowa: 171–106 104–77
Total: 183–127
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • †Indicates BCS or CFP / New Years' Six bowl.
  • #Rankings from final Coaches Poll.
  • °Rankings from final AP Poll.

References[]

  1. ^ "Ferentz to follow Fry" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. December 3, 1998. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  2. ^ "Iowa in the Polls". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on February 15, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  3. ^ "Iowa assistant Doyle put on leave amid allegations". ESPN.com. June 6, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Leistikow, Chad. "Leistikow: Culture change in Iowa football is necessary, and it must start with Kirk Ferentz". Hawk Central. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  5. ^ Rittenberg, Adam; Steele, Michelle (July 27, 2020). "Iowa football and Kirk Ferentz see Black players speak out on program's racial inequities". ESPN. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (December 18, 2020). "Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz tests positive for coronavirus". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Kirk Ferentz gets contract extension from Iowa Hawkeyes – ESPN. Sports.espn.go.com (February 12, 2009). Retrieved on April 22, 2012.
  8. ^ Topic: Article by Hlas posted by Thaihawk on Time for a change part 2. Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Hawk Central (November 13, 2010). Retrieved on April 22, 2012.
  9. ^ Ferentz becomes one of highest paid coaches Archived March 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Nbcsports.msnbc.com (June 2, 2006). Retrieved on April 22, 2012.
  10. ^ San Antonio Express-News[dead link]
  11. ^ Borges, Ron (December 30, 2008). "Browns push for Scott Pioli would include Kirk Ferentz". Boston Herald.
  12. ^ "Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz gets contract extension". SI.com.
  13. ^ USA Today (March 12, 2020). "NCAAF Salaries". USA Today. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ Iowa hires Ferentz, Woods as assistants. wcfcourier.com. February 18, 2012
  16. ^ Brian Ferentz Football Journey, Boston Globe, February 4, 2011
  17. ^ Biggs. "Iowa lineman James Ferentz will be in Chicago Bears minicamp". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). Hawkeyesports.collegesports.com. Retrieved on April 22, 2012.
  19. ^ "2015 NCAAF Coaches Salaries". USAToday. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  20. ^ "Database: State of Iowa employee salaries". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  21. ^ Jordan, Erin (November 3, 2015). "University of Iowa coaches, surgeons again top state pay list: More than 60,000 state employees in fiscal 2015". The Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  22. ^ "Dolphins Add to Coaching Staff". SI.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.

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