Long-time Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz is entering his 27th season at the helm of the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes are coming off an average 2024 season, where they finished 8-5 (No. 6 in the Big Ten) and lost 27-24 to Missouri in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
Iowa will look to achieve its 13th consecutive winning season in 2025 after going 8-5 last season. Since 2007, Iowa has only had one losing season (4-8 in 2012).
Ferentz has a 204-124 (62 percent winning percentage) record, including ten bowl game wins.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Ferentz finally earned some respect from a national news outlet.
In a recent USA Today Big Ten football coaches ranking, reporter Paul Meyerberg ranked Kirk Ferentz as the No. 3 overall coach in the Big Ten. He notes the Hawkeyes' continued success and annual push for a top bowl game were major factors in his decision.
Some people have issues with Kirk Ferentz being ranked high on Meyerberg's list, so let's expand on why he deserves this ranking.
As noted, the Hawkeyes are 204-124 (18 in the last two seasons) under Ferentz. His 204 wins rank No. 2 in the Big 10, and No. 17 overall. This includes eight 10-plus win seasons (the last coming in 2023).
The Hawkeyes have received 22 Bowl invitations since 2001 (the 2020 Bowl season was canceled), going 10-11 in those games.
He has coached 18 consensus All-Americans, 32 First Team All-Americans, 30 Big Ten Players of the Year, and 554 Academic All-Big Ten Honorees.
The NFL pipeline from Iowa City to the NFL has also been strong under Ferentz. He has had 89 draft picks, including 13 first-round and 12 second-round picks. 88 percent of Iowa's senior starters over the past 22 years have been drafted or signed to free agent contracts.
Iowa ranks third in the Big Ten with the number of players drafted (60) over the past 15 years.
Ferentz has been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015), and joined Bo Schembechler (Michigan) as the only coaches to win the award three or more times.
His coaching style might not be flashy or geared towards earning clicks on social media, but his coaching resume and success speak for themselves.
In an OPINION piece, Meyerberg ranked Ferentz as the No. 3 overall coach in the Big Ten, and few opposing arguments can be used against Ferentz's placement on the list.