Less than 24 hours after it was announced that Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz will not return next season, his father, head coach Kirk Ferentz, addressed the media.
The head coach did not go into detail about his thoughts on the decision, but the tension in the Hansen Football Performance Center spoke for itself.
“Basically, my philosophy and my practice has been pretty consistent. Typically, we go through the season and then run an evaluation of the program top to bottom afterwards. Yesterday’s announcement is certainly a departure from that practice, but that’s really what we’ve tried to do for the past 24 years,” Kirk Ferentz said.
Student-athletes typically talk to the media every Tuesday during the season as well, but Kirk Ferentz said he wanted to be the “only voice of the program” at this time. He added that players will be available to talk to the media after Saturday’s game against Northwestern.
Rumors started swirling on social media about the offensive coordinator’s coaching status on Sunday. Interim AD Beth Goetz said in her statement on Monday that announcing the news midseason “is in the best interest of the program and its loyal fans; it provides clarity during this pivotal time in the schedule.”
It was unclear whether the head coach was displeased about the timing of the announcement regarding his son or the decision itself. He mentioned several times that his focus right now is leading the Hawkeyes to success the rest of the season.
Goetz, who spoke with the media following the head coach’s presser, agreed that the focus should remain on this year’s team’s success.
“At the end of the day, both coach Kirk Ferentz and Brian Ferentz, I am 100% confident, and just like they always have, but their focus is on those 120 guys in the locker room,” Goetz said. “That’s been unwavering over time. It’s been unwavering that I’ve watched week in and week out, and I guarantee that’s what they’re thinking about right now.”
When asked if he would return next season as the head coach, Kirk Ferentz said it “would be an injustice to our football team” to think that far ahead.
“You do what you can do that will give us our best chance to be successful knowing that all four of these games are going to be challenging,” Kirk Ferentz said. “That’s not going to change. I’d be foolish to be giving thoughts to things that are outside the realm of that.”
Goetz’s hope is to keep the longest tenured head coach in FBS on staff.
“The concern anytime you would have to replace a Hall of Fame coach in any sport is real. We’ve got more than our fair share here in Iowa, and you want to keep them here as long as you can,” Goetz said.
Goetz did not clarify whether Iowa’s abysmal offensive performance that resulted in a 12-10 loss to Minnesota on Oct. 21 was the dealbreaker in her decision to dismiss Brian Ferentz at the end of the season.
The interim AD also did not disclose when Iowa is going to start looking for an offensive coordinator for next season. Goetz said she and the coaching staff will exchange ideas, but the decision on who to hire will be “left up to the head coach.”
Ferentz on QB depth chart, confident Northwestern team
In the few minutes that Kirk Ferentz was asked about his team’s upcoming game at Wrigley Field against Northwestern, he confirmed that Deacon Hill is still QB1. He added there is a “clear one, two, three” between Hill and backups Joey Labas and Marco Lainez.
Ferentz said the Wildcats are playing with confidence and energy. He specifically complimented last week’s Northwestern defense for getting three consecutive stops on the goal line to prevent Maryland from tying the game.
“More impressively, Northwestern took the ball and drove it, whatever it was, 77 yards and got a field goal out of it,” he added. “That says a lot about them.”
Iowa is currently a five-point favorite over Northwestern, according to Vegas Insider. The point total sits at 29.5, the lowest over/under in the history of college football odds.
The Hawkeyes must win their remaining four games to have a chance to compete in the Big Ten Championship in December.
“We have an opportunity to do some really good things right now,” Kirk Ferentz said of his squad. “I think we’re all excited about that. Historically, this program has had ten 10-win seasons in 100 and whatever years. We have an opportunity for that and potentially beyond that too, which would be historic.”