Kirk Ferentz record at Iowa: A look at Hawkeyes HC’s achievements with the program
There are only a few coaches in college football that are as synonymous with their teams as Kirk Ferentz is with Iowa. Ferentz has been the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes since 1999. He was previously an offensive line coach for the team from 1981 to 1989.
Ferentz's career has been up and down. There were periods of sustained success, and also periods where the team performed worse than Ferentz would have wanted. Overall though, it has been a successful tenure as head coach for Kirk Ferentz.
In 25 full seasons plus the first three games of the 2024 college football season, Ferentz has earned a 198-120 record with Iowa. He and his Hawkeyes have started this season 2-1.
Kirk Ferentz's coaching career with the Iowa Hawkeyes
Kirk Ferentz was first hired by Iowa in 1981 to be the offensive line coach. At the time, he was only 26 years old and worked under offensive coordinator Bill Snyder. Ferentz helped the Hawkeyes achieve their first winning season since 1961 and made their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1958.
With Ferentz as the offensive line coach, the Hawkeyes won the Big 10 Championship in 1985, and the team made eight bowl games, including two Rose Bowls.
After nine seasons in Iowa, Ferentz had his first college football head coaching opportunity with Maine. He took the job and stayed with the team for three seasons before he was hired by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL.
Kirk Ferentz spent six seasons in the NFL as an offensive line coach. He stayed with the Browns from 1993 to 1995 before the Baltimore Ravens hired him. He was then with the Ravens until the end of the 1998 season.
Ferentz was officially hired as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes on December 2, 1998, and has retained that position.
During Ferentz's 25-year tenure as the Hawkeyes' head coach, he has won two Big 10 championships (2002 and 2004) and three Big 10 West Division championships (2015, 2021, and 2023).
Ferentz was named the AP College Football Coach of the Year in 2002 and the Big 10 Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2004, 2009, and 2015). His Hawkeyes have participated in 19 bowl games during his tenure.
Kirk Ferentz Iowa head coaching records
Ferentz became the all-time wins leader for Iowa (144) in 2018 with a victory over Northern Illinois. He has led Iowa to more bowl games (19) than any other coach in its history. Additionally, he has been the longest-tenured coach at the FBS level since 2017 after the retirement of Bob Stoops.