Kirk Ferentz

Ferentz and his wife, Mary, have five children: Brian, Kelly, Joanne, James, and Steven. All three of their sons played college football at Iowa under Ferentz. Brian went on to serve as an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes, while James played as an offensive lineman in the NFL and won two Super Bowls.

The Ferentz family has maintained a long-standing philanthropic connection with the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. In 2007, they founded the Ferentz Family Pediatric Research and Education Endowment Fund. In 2017, Ferentz and his wife contributed over $1 million to establish the Savvy Elizabeth Ferentz Neonatology Research Fund in honor of their granddaughter.

Ferentz played high school football at Upper St. Clair High School near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, under offensive line coach Joe Moore. He continued his athletic career as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut from 1974 to 1976, serving as team captain and earning academic all-conference recognition. He graduated in 1978 with a degree in English education after spending a season as a student assistant coach.

His early coaching stops included Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, where he coached the offensive line, served as defensive coordinator, taught English literature, and coached girls' basketball. In 1980, Ferentz became a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh under Jackie Sherrill, assisting Moore with an offensive line that featured future NFL Hall of Famers Russ Grimm and Jim Covert. From 1981 to 1989, Ferentz coached the offensive line at Iowa under Hayden Fry, contributing to two Big Ten championships and eight bowl berths. He then served as head coach at the University of Maine from 1990 to 1992, compiling a 12-21 record across three seasons.

In 1993, Ferentz entered the National Football League when head coach Bill Belichick hired him as the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns. Ferentz coached three seasons in Cleveland, aiding in the development of offensive tackle Orlando Brown and helping the team reach the playoffs in 1994.

When the franchise relocated to become the Baltimore Ravens in 1996, Ferentz remained on staff under head coach Ted Marchibroda, adding the title of assistant head coach. In Baltimore, Ferentz worked alongside general manager Ozzie Newsome and advocated for the selection of offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden with the fourth overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft. Ogden developed into an All-Pro lineman under Ferentz's direction before embarking on a Hall of Fame career.

Ferentz was named the 25th head football coach at Iowa on December 2, 1998, succeeding Hayden Fry. After enduring a 4-19 record across his first two rebuilding seasons, Ferentz led Iowa to an Alamo Bowl victory in 2001, followed by a breakout 2002 season. The 2002 team finished 11-2, went undefeated in conference play to share the Big Ten championship, and earned an invitation to the Orange Bowl. Ferentz received the Associated Press National Coach of the Year award for the achievement. Iowa shared another Big Ten title in 2004, capping a run of three consecutive top-ten national finishes.

Under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes achieved sustained national relevance, highlighted by an Orange Bowl victory in the 2009 season and an undefeated 12-0 regular season in 2015. The 2015 campaign earned Iowa a Big Ten West Division title, a school-record 12 wins, an appearance in the 2016 Rose Bowl, and four national Coach of the Year honors for Ferentz. He later guided Iowa to additional Big Ten West titles in 2021 and 2023. In 2018, Ferentz passed Hayden Fry to become Iowa's all-time wins leader, and he later set the conference record for overall career coaching victories.

Throughout his tenure, Ferentz has implemented an offense centered around an outside and inside zone-blocking scheme, paired with play-action passing and bootlegs. The system relies on mobile offensive linemen, tight ends, and fullbacks to control tempo and dictate field position.

Ferentz has emphasized complementary football, designing offensive drives to protect the defense and maintain advantageous field position. His program gained a national reputation for developing offensive linemen and defensive talent, with the Hawkeye line winning the Joe Moore Award in 2016 and 2025.

Ferentz's tenure included several off-field challenges. Between 2007 and 2008, multiple player arrests and an on-campus sexual assault case involving two Hawkeye players brought significant scrutiny to program oversight and discipline, prompting the athletic department to hire a dedicated director of player development. In 2011, thirteen players were hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis after an intense offseason workout, leading to an internal investigation and a legal settlement.

In June 2020, multiple former Hawkeye football players publicly reported cultural and racial disparities within the program. An external investigation by the law firm Husch Blackwell concluded that program practices had perpetuated racial bias and maintained an environment that demeans athletes, particularly Black players. Longtime strength coach Chris Doyle was placed on leave and subsequently released. In October 2020, several former players filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the university and coaching staff, which was resolved in March 2023 through a financial settlement by the state board of regents, resulting in the dismissal of the coaches from the suit.