Kirk Ferentz on implementing new offense: 'It's a process'

Kirk Ferentz and Iowa were almost forced into a change at offensive coordinator midway through last season after the Hawkeyes fell well short of expectations under his son, Brian Ferentz. After an extensive offseason search, the Hawkeyes landed on former Western Michigan coach Tim Lester to take over the unit.

Only hired in late January, Iowa is still going through the “process” of learning the new offense. It began with the coaching staff, having to adapt to what Lester is used to calling. Meetings took place over a couple of months, preparing people inside the program for spring practice.

“It’s a process,” Ferentz said following the conclusion of the spring game. “It’s totally new. Starting with the verbiage and the way we call plays. So, basically everybody is starting from scratch. There’s been incremental phases you meet, talk about it as a staff. We probably started two months ago. You can only meet for so long. At some point you have to start doing it and implementing that.”

Once spring ball got started, Iowa got the players involved in the process. They are going through something completely new as well. Not much had changed around the Hawkeye program for quite some time so adaptions are taking place.

Ferentz continued to stress the importance of the coaches getting comfortable, though. Spring practice has been a huge tool for them. Going out there and teaching it has helped them learn on the go.

“It’s been valuable from the coaching standpoint,” Ferentz said. “For us to be involved and coaching the offense and learning it that way. Then, most importantly, what the players absorb and what they take from it. So, every day has been valuable. Real contrast from the defense where the system has been pretty consistent for 20+ years.”

Iowa finished second to last when it came to scoring offense in 2023, averaging 15.4 points per game. Even so, there was a ton of on-field success with a 10-win season and a Big Ten Championship game appearance.

People have been wondering what the Hawkeyes would look like if you combined the elite defense and an average offense, something you would consider an improvement.

Folks in Iowa City are hoping we find out during the 2024 season with Lester stepping in as the play-caller. Iowa’s offense will once again be one of the more fun things to track in the fall.