Kirk Ferentz is synonymous with the Iowa Hawkeyes at this point.
The longest-tenured coach at one school in the FBS, Kirk Ferentz is Iowa and Iowa is Kirk Ferentz. He is entering his 27th season with the program and it seems that only Ferentz will be the one to determine when he is going to step away.
Each offseason, ESPN looks into the head coaching hot seat rankings and tiers them from coaches that better win now to save their job to those that are set in stone to those that are under retirement watch.
Kirk Ferentz is the latter of the bunch. ESPN lists Kirk Ferentz, along with Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, as coaches in their “retirement watch” tier.
Ferentz turns 70 weeks before the 2025 season, which will mark his 27th as Iowa’s coach, the longest tenure in the FBS. He has won at least 61.5% of his games in every season since 2014, and has had only one losing regular season since 2001. But Iowa didn’t meet expectations this fall with a veteran roster, and though the offense improved, the team must find its way in a tougher Big Ten.
Ferentz is under contract through the 2029 season. He should make the call on when he steps aside but will show up in this category every year until he does. – Adam Rittenberg, ESPN
ESPN and Adam Rittenberg are correct. Only Kirk Ferentz should get to decide when he is stepping away as Iowa’s head coach.
It is a right he has earned for the sustained success that he has brought to Iowa.
In his career, Ferentz has amassed a record of 216-145, which includes a 204-124 mark as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
His career-winning percentage sits at 59.83%, which is rather significant. The College Football Hall of Fame requires coaches to have a minimum winning percentage of 60% to be eligible.
That remains the only question mark for Ferentz. He has done everything else to punch his ticket but needs to get above the 60% mark to ensure his status in the College Football Hall of Fame.
To get there, Ferentz needs to win at least eight games next year in a 12-game season or nine games in a 13-game season to reach the threshold.
Should Ferentz elevate his career winning percentage over 60%, begin to watch for him to look to hand to program off.
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