Kirk Ferentz: Where Does He Rank Among Big Ten Coaches?
By Jeremy Karll
No. 7 – Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Hawkeyes (132-90)
Kirk Ferentz and Bob Stoops of Oklahoma are tied as the longest-tenured coach in college football. Barring a major surprise, Ferentz will end his career as the longest-tenured coach in Iowa history and with the most wins. He needs just two seasons and 11 wins to tie Hayden Fry.
As much hate as Ferentz receives for his gaudy contract extension, he brought Iowa back to relevancy and has kept them there. Taking over a three-win team in 1999, Ferentz turned a one-win team (his first season) into a seven-win team with a bowl game win in just his third season. Not to mention Iowa has seen time in the AP Poll top-10 in seven different years during his time at Iowa.
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The Hawkeyes have also only failed to become bowl eligible twice since making their first bowl game under Ferentz. Not to mention making the Rose Bowl in 2015 and going undefeated in the regular season.
It’s easy to blame Ferentz on the Hawkeyes struggles in 2016. Iowa is just 5-3 and is projected to finish 6-6 in the regular season. It’s a far drop from going 12-0 the previous year, but it’s not all on Ferentz and his big contract extension.
Sure, Ferentz isn’t the perfect coach, but Iowa isn’t the cream of the crop, either. Ferentz usually recruits fairly well and gets more out of his players than most coaches do. When it comes down to it, Iowa is never scared of not becoming bowl eligible, and that’s rare to find in programs over an 18-year stretch. There are better coaches and there are worse, but Ferentz is consistent, and that’s what Iowa loves about him.