Career Timeline of Kirk Ferentz: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Kirk Ferentz made an impact.

Kirk Ferentz is the head football coach at the University of Iowa since 1999, making him the longest-tenured FBS coach with one program since 2017. Prior to Iowa, he was the head coach at the University of Maine (1990-1992), and an assistant coach in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. Ferentz played college football as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut. He holds the record for all-time wins as a coach at Iowa.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1959: First Victory in a Major Bowl Since 1959 Rose Bowl

In 2010, Iowa defeated Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, marking their first victory in a major bowl since the 1959 Rose Bowl.

1959: First January Win Since 1959

On January 1, 2004 the Hawkeyes defeated Florida 37-17 in the Outback Bowl, for their first January Win since 1959.

1960: Highest Finish Since 1960 Season

In 2009, The Hawkeyes earned No. 7 rankings in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, their highest finish since the 1960 season.

1973: Commitment to University of Connecticut

In 1973, Kirk Ferentz committed to play football at the University of Connecticut.

1974: College Football Career Begins

In 1974, Kirk Ferentz began his college football career as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut.

1976: Continued College Football at Connecticut

In 1976, Kirk Ferentz continued playing college football as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut.

1977: Student Assistant at Connecticut

In 1977, Kirk Ferentz served as a student assistant at Connecticut under head coach Walt Nadzak.

1978: Defensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach at Worcester Academy

In 1978, Kirk Ferentz began serving as the defensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Worcester Academy.

1979: Continued Coaching Role at Worcester Academy

In 1979, Kirk Ferentz continued his role as the defensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Worcester Academy.

1980: Graduate Assistant at the University of Pittsburgh

In 1980, Kirk Ferentz served as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, assisting Joe Moore with the offensive line.

1981: Joins Hayden Fry's Staff at Iowa

In 1981, Kirk Ferentz joined Hayden Fry's staff at the University of Iowa, coaching the Hawkeyes' offensive line. The team achieved its first winning season since 1961 and its first Rose Bowl appearance since 1958.

1985: Hawkeyes Win Big Ten

In 1985, during Ferentz's tenure as an assistant at Iowa, the Hawkeyes won the Big Ten and held the No. 1 national ranking for five weeks.

1985: First Win Without a Touchdown since 1985

In 2004, shortly after his father's death, Ferentz and the Hawkeyes defeated Penn State 6–4, Iowa's first win without a touchdown since 1985.

1989: End of Iowa Assistant Coaching

In 1989, Kirk Ferentz's time as an offensive line coach at the University of Iowa concluded, after joining in 1981.

1990: Head Coach at Maine

In 1990, Kirk Ferentz became the head coach at the University of Maine, replacing Tom Lichtenberg. Maine finished tied for seventh in the Yankee Conference.

1990: Head Football Coach at University of Maine

In 1990, Kirk Ferentz became the head football coach at the University of Maine.

1992: End of Head Coaching Tenure at Maine

In 1992, Kirk Ferentz's tenure as the head football coach at the University of Maine concluded.

1992: Improved Record at Maine

In 1992, the Black Bears, led by Kirk Ferentz, improved to 6–5 overall. On November 14, the team upset No. 16 UMass.

January 1993: Interview with Cleveland Browns

In January 1993, Kirk Ferentz received an invitation from the NFL's Cleveland Browns to interview for their open offensive line position.

1993: Dan Jones in NFL Draft

In 1993, Offensive tackle Dan Jones went unselected in the NFL draft, but would go on to play 34 games for the Cincinnati Bengals.

1994: Playoffs with Cleveland Browns

In 1994, Kirk Ferentz and Bill Belichick led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs.

1995: Belichick Fired, Browns Move to Baltimore

After the 1995 season, Bill Belichick was fired, and the Browns' owner, Art Modell, finalized the decision to move the franchise to Baltimore.

1996: Move to Baltimore and Draft Selection

In 1996, Kirk Ferentz moved to Baltimore with the Browns' players and some staff. He was named assistant head coach and helped convince the team to draft Jonathan Ogden.

December 2, 1998: Hired as Iowa's Head Coach

On December 2, 1998, Kirk Ferentz was hired as Iowa's 25th head football coach, replacing the retiring Hayden Fry.

1999: Head Coach at University of Iowa

In 1999, Kirk Ferentz became the head football coach at the University of Iowa.

2000: Worst Iowa Under Ferentz Since 2000

In 2012, the 4–8 record stands as the worst Iowa under Ferentz since his second season in 2000.

2000: NFL Draft Selections

In the 2000 NFL draft, Defensive back Matt Bowen and tight end Austin Wheatley were selected.

2001: First Bowl Bid of Ferentz Era

In 2001, Kirk Ferentz's Hawkeyes earned their first bowl bid of his era, finishing the season 7–5 after rebuilding, defeating Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl, 19–16.

2002: Memorable 2002 Season

In 2002, Kirk Ferentz led the Iowa Hawkeyes to a memorable season, finishing with an 11–1 record and as co-conference champions alongside Ohio State. The Hawkeyes' only loss came against Iowa State. They had key victories against Penn State and Purdue. The team clinched a partial Big Ten title with a win over Minnesota.

2003: Hawkeyes Compile 9-3 Record

Despite losing several seniors, the Iowa Hawkeyes compiled a 9–3 regular season record in 2003. Iowa defeated Iowa State for Ferentz's first Cy-Hawk victory and also defeated Michigan. Offensive tackle Robert Gallery was the Outland Trophy winner that season.

2003: Banks Wins Davey O'Brien Award

In 2003, quarterback Brad Banks of Iowa won the Davey O'Brien Award for best quarterback and finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Tight end Dallas Clark won the John Mackey Award. Kicker Nate Kaeding won the Lou Groza Award. Kirk Ferentz was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. The team lost to USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl.

January 1, 2004: Hawkeyes Defeat Florida in Outback Bowl

On January 1, 2004, the Hawkeyes defeated Florida 37–17 in the Outback Bowl. This earned the Hawkeyes a No. 8 national ranking in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll at the end of the season.

2004: Ferentz Deals with Injuries and Father's Death

During the 2004 season, Kirk Ferentz dealt with multiple injuries to the Hawkeyes' running backs and the death of his father, John. Nevertheless, the team achieved a 9–2 regular season record, sharing the Big Ten Conference championship with Michigan. Shortly after his father's death, the Hawkeyes defeated Penn State 6–4.

January 1, 2005: Hawkeyes Defeat LSU in Capital One Bowl

On January 1, 2005, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes defeated LSU 30–25 in the Capital One Bowl with a last second touchdown pass. This was Ferentz's third straight ten-win season.

2005: Hawkeyes Finish 7-4 in 2005

In 2005, the Hawkeyes had a 7–4 regular season record and earned a second trip to the Outback Bowl.

June 2, 2006: Highest Paid Coach in the Big Ten

On June 2, 2006, Kirk Ferentz became the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten and third-highest in college football with a restructured contract that boosted his annual salary to $2.7 million.

2006: Rumors of Consideration for Steelers Head Coaching Job

Following the 2006 NFL season, there were rumors that Kirk Ferentz was being considered for the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coaching job. However, Ferentz expressed disinterest, and the job went to Mike Tomlin.

2006: Hawkeyes Collapse Down the Stretch

In 2006, the Iowa Hawkeyes started strong but collapsed down the stretch, losing five of their last six games. They finished the regular season with a 6–6 record and lost the Alamo Bowl to Texas.

2007: Hawkeyes Struggle in 2007

In 2007, Kirk Ferentz' Hawkeyes started 2–4 and lost their first three conference games. They ended a nine-game conference losing streak with a victory over Illinois, but a loss to Western Michigan dropped the Hawkeyes' season record to 6–6. The Hawkeyes did not receive a bowl bid. Multiple Hawkeye players were arrested, and a sexual case involving two Hawkeye players began in November 2007.

2008: Hawkeyes Finish Strong in 2008

In 2008, Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes started strong but had close losses early in the season. Iowa went on to win five of their next six games, including an upset of Penn State. They defeated South Carolina in the Outback Bowl.

2008: Rumors of Cleveland Browns Coaching Job

In 2008, Kirk Ferentz was rumored as a candidate for the Cleveland Browns' head coaching job, as a potential successor to Romeo Crennel.

2008: LeVar Woods Administrative Assistant

Since 2008, LeVar Woods had been Ferentz's administrative assistant before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2011.

January 2009: Rumors of Kansas City Chiefs Coaching Job

In January 2009, Kirk Ferentz was rumored as a potential candidate for the Kansas City Chiefs' head coaching job. However, the Chiefs hired Todd Haley, and Ferentz received a contract extension to remain at Iowa through 2020.

February 12, 2009: Contract Extension Until 2020

On February 12, 2009, Kirk Ferentz agreed to a new contract extension with Iowa, keeping him at the university until 2020.

2009: Best Start in School History

In 2009, the Iowa Hawkeye football team had the best start in school history. They started 7-0. After defeating Indiana to run their record to 9-0, the Hawks lost quarterback Stanzi to injury in an upset loss to Northwestern. Iowa finished the regular season with a 10–2 record and were selected for the 2010 Orange Bowl.

2010: Iowa Defeats Georgia Tech in Orange Bowl

In 2010, Iowa defeated Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl to earn their first BCS bowl win and their first victory in a major bowl since the 1959 Rose Bowl.

2010: Disappointing 8-5 Season in 2010

In 2010, the Iowa Hawkeyes had a disappointing 8–5 season. They defeated two ranked conference foes at home before losing their final three regular season games. Ferentz and the Hawkeyes defeated the 14th-ranked Missouri Tigers in the 2010 Insight Bowl.

December 2011: Rumors of Kansas City Chiefs Coaching Job Resurface

In December 2011, rumors resurfaced citing Kirk Ferentz as a potential candidate to replace Todd Haley as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs.

2011: Coordinators Depart After 2011 Season

After the 2011 season, Longtime coordinators Norm Parker retired, and Ken O'Keefe left their roles. Kirk Ferentz hired Greg Davis to run the offense and promoted Phil Parker to coordinate the defense.

2011: Dean of Big Ten Football Coaches

In 2011, Kirk Ferentz became the dean of Big Ten football coaches after Joe Paterno's firing from Penn State.

2011: Six Hawkeyes Selected in NFL Draft

In 2011, Six Hawkeyes were selected in the NFL draft, including Adrian Clayborn in the first round.

2011: End of Coordinator Roles for O'Keefe and Parker

In 2011, both Ken O'Keefe and Norm Parker finished their service as coordinators at Iowa.

2011: Inconsistent Season for Hawkeyes

The 2011 Hawkeyes finished with a 7–6 record, defeating ranked Michigan but losing to unranked rivals Minnesota and Iowa State. The Hawkeyes lost to Oklahoma in the 2011 Insight Bowl.

October 13, 2012: 100th Career Win at Iowa

On October 13, 2012, Kirk Ferentz achieved his 100th career win at Iowa with a double-overtime victory over Michigan State.

December 2012: More Rumors of Kansas City Chiefs Coaching Job

In December 2012, similar rumors surfaced again, citing Kirk Ferentz as a potential candidate to replace Haley.

2012: Riley Reiff Drafted

In 2012, offensive tackle Riley Reiff was selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.

2012: Struggles on Both Sides of the Ball

The 2012 Iowa season saw struggles on both sides of the ball with a 4-8 record. Quarterback James Vandenberg's production fell, and the team lost their final 6 games. The 4–8 record stands as the worst Iowa under Ferentz since his second season in 2000.

2013: Improvement in Rushing Attack and Defense

In 2013, the rushing attack and defense improved, as did the Hawkeyes' record to 8–5. On defense, senior linebackers Christian Kirksey, Anthony Hitchens, and James Morris led the unit to 6th-best in the nation in total defense.

2014: Disappointing Season and Bowl Loss

In 2014, Kirk Ferentz's Hawkeyes had a disappointing season, finishing 7-6 overall and 4-4 in Big Ten play, losing all four rivalry games. The Hawkeyes also lost to Tennessee in the Taxslayer Bowl. Tackle Brandon Scherff won the Outland Trophy.

2015: Tied for Longest-Tenured Head Coach

Following the retirement of Frank Beamer after the 2015 season, Kirk Ferentz became tied with Bob Stoops for the longest-tenured head coach at the FBS level.

2015: Beathard Named Starter, Scherff Drafted

In 2015, C.J. Beathard was named the starting quarterback for the Hawkeyes, leading to Jake Rudock's transfer to Michigan. Brandon Scherff was selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

2015: Undefeated Regular Season and Big Ten West Championship

The 2015 season was one of the best in Iowa history, with the Hawkeyes going undefeated in the regular season and winning the Big Ten Conference West championship. Kirk Ferentz was named Big Ten Coach of the Year, and Desmond King won the Jim Thorpe Award. The team, however, lost in the 2015 Big Ten Football Championship Game against Michigan State.

2016: Coaching Staff Changes

After the 2016 season, Greg Davis retired as offensive coordinator and was replaced by Brian Ferentz. Tim Polasek was hired as offensive line coach, Kelvin Bell as assistant defensive line coach, and Ken O'Keefe returned as quarterbacks coach.

June 2017: Longest-Tenured Coach

In June 2017, Kirk Ferentz became the longest-tenured coach in FBS with the sudden retirement of Bob Stoops.

2017: Upset Victory Over Ohio State and Pinstripe Bowl Win

In 2017, Iowa upset No. 3 Ohio State with a 55-24 victory and finished with eight wins. They won the Pinstripe Bowl, marking their first bowl game win since 2010. Josh Jackson and Josey Jewell earned All-American honors and won defensive awards.

2017: Longest-Tenured FBS Coach

Since 2017, Kirk Ferentz has been the longest-tenured FBS coach with one program.

September 1, 2018: All-Time Wins Leader in School History

On September 1, 2018, Kirk Ferentz became the all-time wins leader in Iowa school history with a victory over Northern Illinois, reaching 144 wins.

November 17, 2018: 150th Iowa Career Win

On November 17, 2018, Kirk Ferentz recorded his 150th Iowa career win with a victory over Illinois.

2018: 9-4 Season and Outback Bowl Victory

In the 2018 season, Iowa had a 9-4 record with close Big Ten losses. They won the Outback Bowl against Mississippi State. T.J. Hockenson won the Mackey Award, and Amani Hooker won the Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award.

2019: 10-Win Season and Holiday Bowl Victory

In 2019, Iowa had another successful season, starting 4-0 and winning the Holiday Bowl against USC. The team achieved ten wins for the sixth time under Ferentz and both started and finished the season in the top 25 rankings. Tackle Tristan Wirfs was drafted 13th overall in the 2020 NFL draft.

2020: Tristan Wirfs NFL Draft

Following the 2019 season, Tristan Wirfs was selected as the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

2021: Big Ten West Division Title and Citrus Bowl Appearance

The 2021 season saw Iowa rise to a No. 2 ranking after a 6-0 start, winning the Big Ten West Division Title. However, they lost to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship game and fell to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.

2022: Inconsistent Season and Music City Bowl Victory

In 2022, Iowa's offense struggled significantly, leading to a 3-4 start. Despite the challenges, they had a chance to play in the Big Ten Championship but missed it after a loss to Nebraska. Iowa won the Music City Bowl against Kentucky. The 21-0 victory marked the second bowl shutout produced by the Hawkeyes in school history.

October 12, 2024: 200th Career Win and Second Place in Big Ten Wins

On October 12, 2024, Kirk Ferentz recorded his 200th win at Iowa with a victory over Washington and moved into second place in victories as a Big Ten coach.

2024: Close Losses and Milestone Win for Ferentz

The 2024 campaign was marked by close losses, with three of the five defeats decided by a field goal. Despite the setbacks, Iowa won three trophy contests. Kirk Ferentz moved into second all-time for wins as a Big Ten coach with a victory over Washington.