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Hawkeye Football: Brian Ferentz Out as Iowa Offensive Coordinator
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Fire Kirk Too
Nov 25, 2023, 4:32:20 PM11/25/23
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The storyline for Iowa football in 2023 has been much the same as it was
in 2022. The defense is among the best in the nation. The special teams
are special. The offense? What offense?
For the second consecutive year, Iowa’s offense ranks dead last nationally
in total offense among power five schools. This year, it’s even worse,
ranking dead last among all programs. Granted, injuries have no doubt
played a part in the struggles. A year ago Iowa was down to a single
scholarship receiver for much of the season. This year, Iowa is without
it’s top two tight ends (and lost the third for stretches as well) and
lost starting QB Cade McNamara after he played injured the first several
games of the season.
But injuries or not, dead last nationally is simply unacceptable for a
team that’s among the best in the nation in the two other phases of the
game. Simply being bad would result in a top-25 team. The staff and
administration know that. It’s why departed athletic director left his
farewell gift of a new contract stipulation for offensive coordinator
Brian Ferentz.
Much has been written and said about the now infamous drive to 325, but
the goal was always to simply be mediocre at offense because the rest of
the team is good enough to carry average to a Big Ten West title. Dead
last is a heavier load.
Through nine weeks of the season, Iowa is 6-2. They still hold the keys to
the Big Ten West and would be headed back to Indianapolis if they win out,
barring a massive upset when Minnesota heads to the Horseshoe to take on
Ohio State in mid-November. And the Hawkeyes need just one more win to
satisfy the wins and losses portion of Brian’s revised contract.
But Iowa enters the home stretch averaging just 232 yards and 19.5 points
per game. That’s good for 132nd and 114th nationally. It’s also well off
the pace needed for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz to meet his 25
point per game minimum threshold to have his contract renewed this
offseason. To get there, Iowa would need to average 33.8 points over the
remaining five games. That’s.... not going to happen.
With that writing on the wall, the only thing left for fans to do is chant
“Fire Brian” inside Kinnick Stadium and speculate as to whether interim AD
Beth Goetz will actually follow through on Barta’s stipulations or create
some wiggle room for the Ferentz family.
On Monday, that speculation came to an end as the University of Iowa
announced that Brian Ferentz has officially will not be retained in his
position as offensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes after this season. He
will, however, remain in the role through Iowa’s bowl game.
Here’s the full release from the University of Iowa:
Statement From Beth Goetz, Henry B. And Patricia B. Tippie Interim
Director of Athletics Chair
Anyone who loves Iowa football recognizes both the success and challenges
that have brought attention to our program this season. Our struggles on
offense coupled with the offensive coordinator’s contract make this a
unique situation.
After conversations with head coach Kirk Ferentz, coach Brian Ferentz and
President Wilson, I informed Brian that our intention is for him to be
with us through the bowl game, but this is his last season with the
program. Making this known today is in the best interest of the program
and its loyal fans; it provides clarity during this pivotal time in the
schedule.
It is not my practice to be involved in assistant coaching decisions and
certainly not to make public such a change during a season. Our priority
is to put all our student-athletes in the best position to have both
short-term and long-term success, on and off the field. Our football team
has a group of outstanding young men and talented athletes, who at 6-2,
have a lot to play for. As a former athlete, I know every opportunity to
put on the jersey is a cherished one.
As Hawkeyes, let’s continue to support all our coaches, staff and student-
athletes in their pursuit of a Big Ten Championship and bowl game victory.
Ferentz had been in the role since 2017 when he replaced Greg Davis. Brian
had been on the staff since 2012, when he joined as offensive line coach
after coaching tight ends for the New England Patriots. After three
seasons as OL coach, Brian was named run game coordinator in 2015. He held
the title, along with his OL duties, for two seasons before becoming OC.
Notably, the offense hasn’t always been mired by poor performance under
Ferentz the younger. Through Brian’s first four seasons in the role, Iowa
averaged more than 29 points per game, 54th nationally. That included a
pair of seasons over 30 points per game that put Iowa in the top third of
all offenses in the country.
But things turned south in 2021 and have completely gone off the rails the
last two seasons. Perhaps not coincidentally, long time offensive
coordinator Ken O’Keefe retired in 2021, relinquishing his role as
quarterbacks coach to Brian Ferentz in 2022. With the move from OC and TE
coach to OC and QB coach, Ferentz’s productivity with the offense took a
nosedive.
That nosedive, it seems, has finally become untenable for interim AD Beth
Goetz. Notably, the release reads as though Goetz is terminating Ferentz’s
contract rather than him resigning, which had been rumored earlier in the
day. The decision to leave him in place through the rest of the season is
open to some criticism given Iowa has a former division one offensive
coordinator on staff as an analyst in Jon Budmayr.
However, the decision to announce a termination at this point shows
meaningfully more accountability than letting Ferentz leave on his own
accord and is a meaningful break from the leadership style Hawkeye fans
had grown accustomed to under former athletic director Gary Barta.
Now Iowa fans look to the remaining five games (perhaps six if the
Hawkeyes can win the West) and are left to wonder if anything changes for
a lame duck coordinator.
Iowa is back on the field this week as they travel to Chicago to take on
Northwestern inside Wrigley Field. The game kicks off at 2:30pm CT and
will be available for streaming on Peacock.
https://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2023/10/30/23938493/hawkeye-football-
brian-ferentz-out-as-iowa-offensive-coordinator-beth-goetz-kirk-fired-bhgp
in 2022. The defense is among the best in the nation. The special teams
are special. The offense? What offense?
For the second consecutive year, Iowa’s offense ranks dead last nationally
in total offense among power five schools. This year, it’s even worse,
ranking dead last among all programs. Granted, injuries have no doubt
played a part in the struggles. A year ago Iowa was down to a single
scholarship receiver for much of the season. This year, Iowa is without
it’s top two tight ends (and lost the third for stretches as well) and
lost starting QB Cade McNamara after he played injured the first several
games of the season.
But injuries or not, dead last nationally is simply unacceptable for a
team that’s among the best in the nation in the two other phases of the
game. Simply being bad would result in a top-25 team. The staff and
administration know that. It’s why departed athletic director left his
farewell gift of a new contract stipulation for offensive coordinator
Brian Ferentz.
Much has been written and said about the now infamous drive to 325, but
the goal was always to simply be mediocre at offense because the rest of
the team is good enough to carry average to a Big Ten West title. Dead
last is a heavier load.
Through nine weeks of the season, Iowa is 6-2. They still hold the keys to
the Big Ten West and would be headed back to Indianapolis if they win out,
barring a massive upset when Minnesota heads to the Horseshoe to take on
Ohio State in mid-November. And the Hawkeyes need just one more win to
satisfy the wins and losses portion of Brian’s revised contract.
But Iowa enters the home stretch averaging just 232 yards and 19.5 points
per game. That’s good for 132nd and 114th nationally. It’s also well off
the pace needed for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz to meet his 25
point per game minimum threshold to have his contract renewed this
offseason. To get there, Iowa would need to average 33.8 points over the
remaining five games. That’s.... not going to happen.
With that writing on the wall, the only thing left for fans to do is chant
“Fire Brian” inside Kinnick Stadium and speculate as to whether interim AD
Beth Goetz will actually follow through on Barta’s stipulations or create
some wiggle room for the Ferentz family.
On Monday, that speculation came to an end as the University of Iowa
announced that Brian Ferentz has officially will not be retained in his
position as offensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes after this season. He
will, however, remain in the role through Iowa’s bowl game.
Here’s the full release from the University of Iowa:
Statement From Beth Goetz, Henry B. And Patricia B. Tippie Interim
Director of Athletics Chair
Anyone who loves Iowa football recognizes both the success and challenges
that have brought attention to our program this season. Our struggles on
offense coupled with the offensive coordinator’s contract make this a
unique situation.
After conversations with head coach Kirk Ferentz, coach Brian Ferentz and
President Wilson, I informed Brian that our intention is for him to be
with us through the bowl game, but this is his last season with the
program. Making this known today is in the best interest of the program
and its loyal fans; it provides clarity during this pivotal time in the
schedule.
It is not my practice to be involved in assistant coaching decisions and
certainly not to make public such a change during a season. Our priority
is to put all our student-athletes in the best position to have both
short-term and long-term success, on and off the field. Our football team
has a group of outstanding young men and talented athletes, who at 6-2,
have a lot to play for. As a former athlete, I know every opportunity to
put on the jersey is a cherished one.
As Hawkeyes, let’s continue to support all our coaches, staff and student-
athletes in their pursuit of a Big Ten Championship and bowl game victory.
Ferentz had been in the role since 2017 when he replaced Greg Davis. Brian
had been on the staff since 2012, when he joined as offensive line coach
after coaching tight ends for the New England Patriots. After three
seasons as OL coach, Brian was named run game coordinator in 2015. He held
the title, along with his OL duties, for two seasons before becoming OC.
Notably, the offense hasn’t always been mired by poor performance under
Ferentz the younger. Through Brian’s first four seasons in the role, Iowa
averaged more than 29 points per game, 54th nationally. That included a
pair of seasons over 30 points per game that put Iowa in the top third of
all offenses in the country.
But things turned south in 2021 and have completely gone off the rails the
last two seasons. Perhaps not coincidentally, long time offensive
coordinator Ken O’Keefe retired in 2021, relinquishing his role as
quarterbacks coach to Brian Ferentz in 2022. With the move from OC and TE
coach to OC and QB coach, Ferentz’s productivity with the offense took a
nosedive.
That nosedive, it seems, has finally become untenable for interim AD Beth
Goetz. Notably, the release reads as though Goetz is terminating Ferentz’s
contract rather than him resigning, which had been rumored earlier in the
day. The decision to leave him in place through the rest of the season is
open to some criticism given Iowa has a former division one offensive
coordinator on staff as an analyst in Jon Budmayr.
However, the decision to announce a termination at this point shows
meaningfully more accountability than letting Ferentz leave on his own
accord and is a meaningful break from the leadership style Hawkeye fans
had grown accustomed to under former athletic director Gary Barta.
Now Iowa fans look to the remaining five games (perhaps six if the
Hawkeyes can win the West) and are left to wonder if anything changes for
a lame duck coordinator.
Iowa is back on the field this week as they travel to Chicago to take on
Northwestern inside Wrigley Field. The game kicks off at 2:30pm CT and
will be available for streaming on Peacock.
https://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2023/10/30/23938493/hawkeye-football-
brian-ferentz-out-as-iowa-offensive-coordinator-beth-goetz-kirk-fired-bhgp
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