Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz has been at Iowa City since 1999 and is currently the longest tenured head coach in college football. Considering Ferentz’s contract ends in 2025, there was plenty of time to figure out a contract extension if the two sides wanted to keep going together. Apparently there’s no time like the present as Ferentz signed a four-year extension worth $7 million/season to stay at Iowa through the 2029 season.
Ferentz has had a consistently slightly above average career with the Hawkeyes. In 23 seasons as Iowa’s coach, Ferentz has been bowl eligible in 19 of them and ended the season ranked in 10. And it should be noted that Ferentz develops a high number of NFL-caliber players. Conversely, Ferentz has only won the Big Ten Championship twice, with the last taking place in 2004. Iowa made the Big Ten Championship this season but lost 42-3 to Michigan and then lost to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.
Many had thoughts about the extension.
You could tell me literally anything was in the Ferentz extension and I would believe you. A deferred account in Antigua. Stock options in case Iowa goes public. A lifetime job for Brian, even after Kirk is gone. Anything
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) January 14, 2022