Brian Ferentz, Iowa to part ways at end of season
Brian Ferentz will not return to Iowa next season. On Monday, the program announced that the 40-year-old offensive coordinator will be parting ways following the 2023 season.
The separation is no surprise. In 2022, Iowa only averaged 17.7 points and 156.7 yards passing per game. Even worse, Iowa finished 130th out of 131 FBS teams in total offense at 256.1 yards per game. Consequently, Iowa revised Ferentz’s contract ahead of the 2023 season.
The program docked his salary from $900,000 to $850,000. Further, Iowa added a clause which stated Iowa must score 325 total points in the regular-season games for Ferentz to retain his job in 2024. For reference, 85 programs reached this mark in 2022.
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Eight games into the season, Ferentz isn’t remotely on track to reach this target. Iowa has averaged just 19.5 points per game, ranking No. 116 in the country. Iowa fans are all-too-familiar with the underwhelming offensive output.
Brian Ferentz faces more than offensive issues
Since Ferentz took over Iowa’s offense in 2017, the Hawkeyes have consistently produced one of the lowest offensive outputs in the country. Ferentz’s subpar play-calling isn’t his only offense, either.
In 2020, multiple players alleged Ferentz routinely committed racially insensitive behavior. An external review from the law firm Husch Blackwell corroborated the players’ complaints of racial bias in the Iowa football program. While Strength and Conditioning coach Chris Doyle was placed on administrative leave and later terminated for his involvement, Ferentz maintained his without suspension, leave, or fine.
Questions of nepotism
Many outsiders point to Ferentz’s familial connections as the reason behind his extended stay with the program. Brian Ferentz’s father, Kirk, is Iowa’s head coach, and has been since 1999. In 25 seasons under Kirk Ferentz, Iowa boasts 118 Big Ten Conference victories.
Despite Brian’s offensive dysfunction, Iowa’s success hasn’t slowed in recent years. Last season, Iowa finished 8-5, picking up a win in the Music City Bowl. There was no such happy ending for Iowa in its most recent outing.
In Week 8, the Hawkeyes fell 12-10 to Minnesota. In typical fashion, Iowa’s offense was a non-factor. The team only tallied 127 total yards while committing three turnovers. Moreover, Iowa only recorded 12 yards of offense in the second half.
After the loss, Kirk Ferentz was forced to address Iowa’s offensive failure.
“They did a really nice job, but we have to find answers,” the 68-year-old head coach said. “We’re going to have to find answers moving forward.”
It appears Iowa has found its answer. While it seems Brian Ferentz will finish the season, his time with Iowa is all but over. The decision is an end of an era for the Hawkeyes.