Kirk James Ferentz born August 1, 1955 is an American football coach who has served as the head coach of the University of Iowa football team since 1999. Prior to his time at Iowa, he was the head coach at the University of Maine from 1990 to 1992 and also held assistant coaching positions with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.
Kirk Ferentz Biography 2024
Ferentz played college football as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut from 1974 to 1976. He is currently the longest-tenured FBS head coach at a single program, having held the Iowa position since 1999, and is the program’s all-time leader in wins. Ferentz played high school football at Upper St. Clair High School near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, excelling as both a linebacker and fullback under coach Joe Moore, who later became a renowned offensive line coach at Pitt and Notre Dame.
Kirk Ferentz Biography Details
| Title | Head coach |
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| Team | Iowa |
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| Conference | Big Ten |
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| Record | 204–123 |
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| Annual salary | $7 million |
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| Born | August 1, 1955 (age 69)
Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S. |
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| 1974–1976 | Connecticut |
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| Position(s) | Linebacker |
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Kirk Ferentz Early Life
He was also a talented left-handed pitcher in baseball. In 1973, he committed to play football at the University of Connecticut, where he served as team captain and earned academic honors. Ferentz was recognized as the ECAC Division II Defensive Player of the Week after a standout game with 12 tackles and two fumble recoveries against UMass. He was named academic all-conference and also received defensive MVP honors during his senior year. In 1977, Ferentz returned to Connecticut as a student assistant coach under head coach Walt Nadzak.
Kirk Ferentz Bio
Name | Details |
Date of Birth | August 1, 1955 |
Place of Birth | Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S. |
Age | 69 |
Annual Salary | $7 million |
Current Position | Head Coach |
Team | Iowa |
Conference | Big Ten |
Total Wins | 204–123 |
Playing Career Overview
Year | Position | Team |
1974–1976 | Linebacker | Connecticut |
1974–1976 | Captain & Academic All-Yankee Conference | Connecticut |
Early Coaching Career
Year | Role | Team |
1978–1979 | OL/DC | Worcester Academy |
1980 | GA (Graduate Assistant) | Pittsburgh |
1981–1989 | OL Coach | Iowa |
Head Coaching Career
Year | Position | Team |
1990–1992 | Head Coach | Maine |
1999–Present | Head Coach | Iowa |
Coaching Achievements
Award | Year |
AP College Football Coach of the Year | 2002 |
Walter Camp Coach of the Year | 2002 |
Big Ten Coach of the Year (4x) | 2002, 2004, 2009, 2015 |
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award | 2015 |
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year | 2015 |
Coaching Legacy at Iowa
Record | Total Wins | Bowls Record |
Overall | 204–123 | 10–10 |
Coaching Career Timeline
Year | Team | Role |
1990–1992 | Maine | Head Coach |
1993–1995 | Cleveland Browns | OL Coach |
1996–1998 | Baltimore Ravens | OL/Assistant Head Coach |
1999–Present | Iowa | Head Coach |
Coaching Staff Contributions
Role | Notable Coaches |
Offensive Coordinator | Ken O’Keefe |
Defensive Coordinator | Norm Parker |
Offensive Line Coach | Joe Philbin |
Defensive Line Coach | Ron Aiken |
Controversies in Ferentz’s Career
Incident | Details |
2007 Arrests | 18 Iowa players arrested for various offenses |
2007 Sexual Assault | Two players involved in a campus sexual assault incident |
2011 Rhabdomyolysis | 13 players hospitalized after intense offseason workouts |
Personal Life of Kirk Ferentz
Family Member | Role/Relation |
Mary Ferentz | Wife |
Brian Ferentz | Son, New England Patriots Coach |
James Ferentz | Son, NFL Player, Super Bowl Champion |
University of Iowa Achievements
Year | Achievement | Detail |
2002 | Big Ten Championship | First under Ferentz |
2004 | Big Ten Championship | Second title |
2015 | Big Ten West Division | First win in division |
2023 | Big Ten West Division | Latest division title |
NFL Players Developed by Kirk Ferentz
Player Name | Position | NFL Team |
Ron Hallstrom | Offensive Guard | NFL |
Mark Bortz | Offensive Guard | NFL |
Bob Kratch | Offensive Guard | NFL |
John Alt | Offensive Tackle | NFL |
Coaching Philosophy
Concept | Description |
Offensive Strategy | Focus on the offensive line and running game |
Defensive Strategy | Strong linebacker play and fundamental tackling |
Player Development | Emphasis on discipline, leadership, and teamwork |
Key Iowa Players Under Ferentz
Player Name | Position | NFL Draft Status |
Ron Hallstrom | Offensive Guard | NFL Draft First Round |
Brett Miller | Offensive Tackle | NFL Draft Second Round |
Mike Devlin | Center | NFL Draft First Round |
Big Ten Championships
Year | Championship |
2002 | Big Ten Champion |
2004 | Big Ten Champion |
Notable Bowl Game Appearances
Bowl Game | Year | Result |
Rose Bowl | 1982 | Win |
Holiday Bowl | 1985 | Win |
Citrus Bowl | 2005 | Win |
Impact of Rhabdomyolysis Incident
Year | Incident Impact |
2011 | 13 players hospitalized due to excessive workout strain |
2011 | University and Ferentz face public scrutiny |
Kirk Ferentz Net Worth
Kirk Ferentz has an estimated net worth of $16 million.
Kirk Ferentz Summary
Kirk Ferentz is an influential figure in American football, with a distinguished coaching career primarily at Iowa, where he has become the program’s all-time wins leader. His coaching journey spans across various levels, including the NFL and NCAA, with significant achievements such as Big Ten Championships and multiple coach of the year honors. His leadership has shaped many players’ careers, including numerous NFL prospects. However, Ferentz’s career has also been marred by controversies, including player misconduct incidents and health-related controversies, which have tested his ability to manage and lead the team through challenges. Despite these issues, Ferentz remains one of the most respected and longest-tenured coaches in college football.
