Iowa History Daily: On December 2, 1998, the University of Iowa hired Kirk Ferentz as the 25th head coach of the Hawkeyes. A veteran of legendary Hawkeye Head Coach Hayden Fry’s staff, Ferentz carved out his own legacy at Kinnick over a successful career which continues to build today as the longest consecutively-tenured head coach in major college football.
After standing out as a linebacker and fullback at Upper St. Clair High School in Pennsylvania, Ferentz headed on to close out his playing career at the University of Connecticut. Starting his coaching career with stops at Worcester Academy and the University of Pittsburgh, Ferentz first arrived in Iowa City in 1981.
Ferentz served as the offensive line coach under Head Coach Hayden Fry and Offensive Coordinator Bill Snyder on a staff which also boasted college coaching legends Barry Alvarez, Dan McCarney, and Bob Stoops. Winners of the Rose Bowl during Ferentz’s first season, the Hawks appeared in eight bowl games before he departed after the 1989 season to take the head job at Maine. After his stint at Maine, Ferentz headed for the NFL where he coached under Bill Belichick in Cleveland before the franchise moved to Baltimore.
When Hayden Fry retired in 1998, the University of Iowa offered Ferentz the chance to return to lead the Hawkeyes. The all-time wins leader at Iowa, Ferentz continues to build on a resume which includes two Big Ten championships, three Big Ten West Championships, an AP College Football Coach of the Year award, and many other honors. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
