Latest news with #Ferentz
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football legend among top 25 coaches of the 21st century
Iowa football legend among top 25 coaches of the 21st century As the 2025-26 college football season is just around the corner, The Athletic's Chris Vannini ranked the nation's top 25 head coaches of the 21st century, with Iowa's Kirk Ferentz making the list among the sport's elite names. According to Vannini's rankings, Ferentz was named as the No. 22 coach on the list. Vaninni shared that the Iowa legend's consistency is underrated amongst other coaches of his stature. Ferentz will pass Woody Hayes as the winningest coach in Big Ten history with two more victories. His consistency is underrated, reaching bowl eligibility in 23 of the last 24 seasons with five top-10 finishes. The Hawkeyes have had five Top 25 finishes in the last seven seasons but no top-10 finishes since 2015. - Chris Vaninni, The Athletic. Regarding the accomplishments that allowed the Hawkeyes' head coach to reside in the No. 22 slot, Vaninni listed Ferentz's two Big Ten championships, five top-10 finishes, three BCS and New Year's Six bowl appearances and eight double-digit-win seasons as evidence to support his ranking. Ferentz took over the head coaching duties in Iowa City in the 1999 season following the illustrious career of College Football Hall of Fame coach Hayden Fry, who retired after a 143-89-6 record over 20 years with the Hawkeyes. Despite struggles in the early years of Ferentz's tenure at Iowa, the Hawkeyes' program eventually found even ground and has now evolved into a well-respected program that has continuously developed NFL-ready talent year after year. Ferentz's recent success with the Hawkeyes also places Iowa in an elite group of programs that have recorded at least eight wins in each of the last 10 seasons, joining Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State. Concerning how other Big Ten coaches fared in the rankings, 10 of the top 25 names listed either currently coach or were formerly involved with a program in the now-18-member Big Ten conference. That lists includes, former Oregon and UCLA coach Chip Kelly at No. 24, former Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio at No. 21, current USC coach Lincoln Riley at No. 20, current Penn State coach James Franklin at No. 15, current Ohio State coach Ryan Day at No. 11, former Washington head coach Chris Petersen at No. 10, former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh at No. 8, former Ohio State coaches Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer listed at No. 7 and No. 2 respectfully, with former USC coach Pete Carroll between the two Buckeyes at No. 3. Due to the recent criteria alteration for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, former Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is eligible for a posthumous entry. Ferentz's 59.8% all-time win record would make him eligible for immediate consideration upon retirement. With Iowa preparing for its upcoming 2025-26 season over the summer, could a particularly successful season in Iowa City constitute a higher ranking for the Hawkeyes' winningest head coach among his peers? Fans can make that judgment once Iowa's season begins on Aug. 30, when the Hawkeyes host Albany from Kinnick Stadium at 5 p.m. CT on FS1. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
College football alters Hall of Fame criteria, opens Kirk Ferentz door
College football alters Hall of Fame criteria, opens Kirk Ferentz door The National Football Foundation, in consultation with the American Football Coaches Association, NFF Honors Court, and NFF Awards Committee, has adjusted the eligibility criteria for coaches entering the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. Beginning with the Class of 2027,… — National Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) May 29, 2025 The National Football Foundation announced an adjustment to its NFF College Football Hall of Fame criteria on Thursday. The NFF College Football Hall of Fame lowered its minimum career winning percentage threshold for coaching eligibility from .600 to .595. This change will go into effect beginning with the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot. It's a notable development in Iowa City, too. Longtime Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has sat just below the .600 minimum career winning percentage threshold for some time. After last season's 8-5 (6-3 Big Ten) finish, Ferentz's coaching mark at Iowa across 26 seasons sits at 204-124 (128-88 Big Ten). That's a .622 winning percentage with the Hawkeyes. There's just one problem. Ferentz's three-year mark in his first head coaching stint at Maine was 12-21 from 1990-92. Those three seasons bring Ferentz's overall collegiate head coaching record to 216-145. Or, a .598 winning percentage. With this adjustment, Ferentz would now be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame upon retirement. It's exciting news for the all-time winningest Hawkeye that his runway to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame has been cleared for takeoff. The adjustment also presents some interesting questions for Iowa, too. Does this alter Ferentz's retirement timeline in any way, shape or form? With the NFF College Football Hall of Fame roadblock now cleared, could Ferentz retire after the 2025 season? An Iowa finish of 7-6 or better in the 2025 season would keep Ferentz above the new minimum career winning percentage threshold of .595 for coaching eligibility. If Iowa rips off a particularly successful 2025 season or pair of seasons in 2025 and 2026, does that free Ferentz up to coach out the remainder of his contract through the 2029 season without the looming fear of dipping below that Hall of Fame threshold? It's interesting to consider. All of the other eligibility requirements remain unchanged. To be considered for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, coaches must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 10 seasons and must have coached at least 100 games. Coaches become eligible for consideration three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement if they are at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible upon reaching the age of 75. Beyond Ferentz, late Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is now eligible for the Hall of Fame. Former Oklahoma State, LSU and Kansas head coach Les Miles and former Pitt, Texas A&M and Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill are now eligible as well. "It's the only sane thing to do," Leach's mentor, Hal Mumme, told ESPN. "Why is 60% the magic number? I mean, not everybody gets to coach at Notre Dame or Texas or something. Throw the rule out and vote people in on merit." Among other active head coaches, West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez owns a .596 winning percentage. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa legend among elite in updated CBS college football head coach rankings
Iowa legend among elite in updated CBS college football head coach rankings The eldest and most-tenured king of college football, Kirk Ferentz has found a level of consistent success with the Iowa Hawkeyes that over 100 FBS programs would gladly trade for in a heartbeat. While it may not be the most visually appealing or the most fun way to win games, all that matters is the Hawkeyes win games, and a lot of them, with Kirk Ferentz at the helm as the head coach. His success has been maintained, built upon, and can be counted on in each college football season. The sort of reputation and ability to win games has earned Kirk Ferentz a spot at CBS Sports' No. 19 head coach in all of college football. 19. Iowa Kirk Ferentz: Kirk Ferentz began coaching at Iowa long before we began ranking coaches here, but his position has typically been the same. He's always in the top 20, sometimes climbing near the top 10, depending on how things went the year before. He's earned respect for his overall body of work, even if some of our voters aren't exactly thrilled by the style of play Ferentz prefers in Iowa City. 2024 rank: 18 (-1), High: 9, Low: 34 - Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports While at the helm for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Ferentz has amassed winning season after winning season. He has led Iowa to a winning record in 21 seasons since 1999, when he took over as the head coach. He has a career record of 204-124 with the Hawkeyes. Iowa has made its way to 20 bowl games under the tutelage of Kirk Ferentz, while qualifying for a bowl game every year dating back to 2013. So, while it isn't always sexy or high flying, it is undeniably winning. When Iowa is back in the coaching search world, the realization of what he truly meant to this program may only hit the fan base then. Kirk Ferentz wins games, simple as that. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald
USA Today
10-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Iowa football win total odds from FanDuel released as history favors the Hawkeyes
Iowa football win total odds from FanDuel released as history favors the Hawkeyes The 2025 college football season ushers in another year for the Iowa Hawkeyes and legendary head coach Kirk Ferentz. The program has consistently won games under Ferentz and maintained their place as a team that stays above the .500 mark. The Hawkeyes' schedule in 2025 gives them another opportunity to surpass that mark and as evidenced by the Iowa Hawkeyes' 2025 win total released by FanDuel. Iowa currently sits with a win total of 7.5 games, but FanDuel has better odds on Iowa to finish under that mark at -154, whereas the odds to surpass that number are +126. Since 2009, Iowa has surpassed 7.5 wins all but four times, one being the shortened 2020 season, where Iowa went 6-2. In full seasons, Iowa has hit the 7.5-win mark nine consecutive times. The Hawkeyes figure to be favored in at least half of their games, with a handful of games looking like tossups early on. The early season matchups against UAlbany, UMass, and Rutgers give the Hawkeyes an opportunity to stack wins early in the year. While the odds are expecting some losses by the Hawkeyes this year, Iowa embraces the close games and doubt by harnessing that into close wins, as they always have done under Kirk Ferentz. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald
Chicago Tribune
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Iowa hoping Naperville's Mark Gronowski — who won 2 titles at South Dakota State — can give the offense a jolt
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Mark Gronowski was on the losing side of what he jokingly called 'the greatest offensive game of all time.' Gronowski was South Dakota State's quarterback when the Jackrabbits lost 7-3 at Iowa in the 2022 season opener, with the Hawkeyes' points coming from two safeties and a field goal. Now Gronowski's job is to lead Iowa's offense, which has been the butt of more than a few jokes for the way it has lumbered through recent seasons. Iowa ranked 72nd in scoring and 117th in total offense under new coordinator Tim Lester last season, an improvement over the previous two years when the Hawkeyes were at or near the bottom of the FBS rankings in both categories. But Iowa still ranked 129th in passing, so the need for a quarterback out of the NCAA transfer portal was an offseason necessity. Gronowski likes having the chance to help the Hawkeyes. 'Talking with Lester and kind of seeing the progression of the offense from the prior year to this last year was really cool to see, and he wants to continue to grow (the passing) offense as well,' Gronowski said. Gronowski threw for 10,308 yards and won 49 games in his four seasons at South Dakota State, leading the Jackrabbits to FCS national championships in 2022 and 2023. He won the Walter Payton Award in 2023, given to the top FCS offensive player. The Naperville native and Neuqua Valley alumnus went into the transfer portal after last season and considered entering the NFL draft, but he decided to stay in college because of a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery. 'That whole process, the transfer portal itself, is a crazy deal,' said Gronowski, who estimated at one point early in the process he had 100 missed calls and another 100 missed texts from recruiters. 'Definitely talked to a lot of different scouts about my opportunities in the NFL, and we kind of decided — me and my parents and my agent — that it was going to be best to come back for another year. 'And after talking with Iowa and just the culture here, having a Hall of Fame coach like Coach (Kirk) Ferentz, and also being very similar to what I had at South Dakota State teamwise with a winning culture, that's why I ended up choosing Iowa.' Ferentz hasn't had much luck with transfer quarterbacks. Cade McNamara was injured for much of his two seasons with the Hawkeyes after transferring from Michigan, and Brendan Sullivan, who transferred from Northwestern before last season, started the last three games and went back into the portal. Iowa brought in quarterback Hank Brown from Auburn in addition to Gronowski, who turns 24 in October and has four years of starting experience. 'We got to see him on film, and that speaks for itself, whether it was how he played but more importantly what I think quarterback is all about — it's a leadership position,' Ferentz said. 'There's no avoiding that. He clearly did that. He delivered his team to victory a lot, and that's really impressive.' Gronowski hasn't done much in spring practice as he rehabilitates the injured shoulder, but he said his recovery is ahead of schedule. 'The training staff here has been awesome throughout the entire process, and the doctors have been great,' Gronowski said. 'Right now, as spring ball is progressing, I'm just continuing to get mental reps and trying to learn as much as I can.' Ferentz likes how Gronowski fits within the program. 'Mark is a proven player,' Ferentz said. 'He's done it on film. Hasn't done it at the Big Ten level necessarily, but good players are good players in my mind. 'The thing I'm more impressed with is the kind of person he is and his demeanor. I would call him fairly quiet, but he has a humbleness to him and a confidence to him that's very genuine.'
