Iowa City Today

On a December night in 1998, Kirk Ferentz arrived at the Eastern Iowa Airport to begin his tenure as head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. The hiring followed the retirement of Hayden Fry, who was the program's all-time winningest coach and had stepped down due to health reasons. At that time, Ferentz was serving as assistant head coach for the Baltimore Ravens and had previously worked under Fry at Iowa.

Ferentz's interview with the university’s search committee took place near Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport. His preparation and demeanor made a strong impression on those involved in the decision-making process.

Reflecting on Ferentz’s hiring, former Iowa athletic director Bob Bowlsby said, “Did I know at the time we hit a home run? That he would be at Iowa for 27 years? Hell no. And anybody who tells you otherwise is an abject liar.”

Bowlsby also recalled Ferentz’s first meeting with the team: “I remember standing there thinking, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re going to get every last ounce of effort out of this man.’ You could sense the integrity. The work ethic. You could feel how much he cares. And that’s the way he has been all these years.”

Ferentz has now led the Hawkeyes for 27 years—seven more than Fry—and remains active in his role at age 70. He is currently recognized as the longest-tenured head coach in college football, having served longer than any other current Division I head coach. During his tenure, sixty-nine coaches have been hired by other Big Ten schools.

Further details about Kirk Ferentz’s career and impact can be found in the latest edition of Iowa Magazine.