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 2025
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.
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Kirk Ferentz Biography Details
Title
Head coach
Team
Iowa
Conference
Big Ten
Record
204–123
Annual salary
$7 million
Born
August 1, 1955 (age 69)
Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.
1974–1976
Connecticut
Position(s)
Linebacker
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.
