Kirk Ferentz

Kirk Ferentz is in his 20th year as head football coach at the University of Iowa, and his 29th season overall at the University. With Iowa's 27-20 win over Boston College in the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl, Ferentz recorded win No. 143 as Iowa's head coach, matching Hayden Fry as the winningest football coach in program history. With the start of the 2018 season, Ferentz will match Fry as the longest tenured head football coach in Iowa history, as Fry also led the Hawkeyes for 20 seasons (1979-98). Ferentz is the longest tenured head football coach in the nation. Ferentz and Fry are believed to be the only head coaches to lead a Division I football program for 20 years, consecutively. Under Ferentz' leadership the Iowa football program in 2017 made its 15th bowl game appearance since 2001. That success has been achieved with strong commitments to the program, the University of Iowa, and the ideals that represent Hawkeye football - hard work, determination, player development and character, on and off the field. Ferentz has guided the Hawkeyes to eight wins or more in 10 seasons since 2002.

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FAMOUS QUOTES from Kirk Ferentz

Jerry Hilgenberg was a first-class individual. I got to know him during the 1980’s as a successful businessman and father to four incredible children, including two that I was lucky enough to coach. He was a friend and supporter of our program for decades. Mary and I send our condolences to the whole Hilgenberg family. He will be greatly missed.
About Jerry Hilgenberg 1/16/2024... - Link to source

Jonathan’s one of those guys where I wish I had four...We could use a few at fullback, linebacker, tight end, and a few on the line too. He’s a very gifted football player.
About Jonathan Babineaux - Link to source

As much of anything, the impact of Bake’s punting was huge in that game...That stands out as the No. 1 game I can remember where a punter impacted a game.
About Jason Baker - KF speaking about Jason and the 2000 Penn State game. - Link to source

We did that because he's earned that, and it was all about us paying him back a little bit. He's run the whole race. He's gone through a lot of tough stuff, and I talk about that all the time when you talk about guys that go through injuries. People don't understand just how lonely it is and how hard it is to fight back from that, so that was like the least that we could do for him. He wanted to try to do it, so I was so happy.
About Darian Cooper 11/25/2015... - Playing one snap in the final game after returning from injury. - Link to source

I don’t know anything about gambling, but I’m guessing if you put 10 bucks on us four weeks ago, you’d probably be ok. I’m not advocating that, but it’d probably be a good deal. You’d probably have a hard time finding takers on that one, though.
...from Iowa vs. Minnesota on 11/19/2022 - Link to source

We looked like the fat cats and they played hungry. I assume the responsibility for that happening. I have to do a better job of coaching and the coaching staff, collectively, needs to do a better job of coaching.
...from Iowa vs. Northwestern on 11/4/2006 - Link to source

...our fans did a great job. They were into the game. We knew they’d ready to go at the start. They were more ready than we were. Just wanted to make sure our team understood that they can’t play the game for us. They did a great job all the way through. What a great scene at the end. That’s really special. That’s what makes being in Kinnick special.
...from Iowa vs. Penn State on 10/9/2021 - Link to source

Great to have our fans here. Really appreciate that. A nice contingent. I’m not really sure where they all came from. I guess we have a lot of people out East. They were really vocal. That made things a little bit easier for us.
...from Iowa vs. Maryland on 10/1/2021 - Link to source

A year ago, I was confronted with some hard truths about our program. It became apparent very quickly that I needed to broaden the circle and include people with new perspectives and different voices, and this committee came from those talks. We had dozens of former players step up, willing to help, because of their love of the program. They are giving their time and expertise on how to make the program an even better experience for current players.
8/20/2021... - Explaining the creation of the 11-person football advisory committee launched in 2020. - Link to source

I am happy to bring Jason Manson back to our program in this capacity. Jason was a valued team member and leader during his Iowa career. His perspective and experience since graduation will be a great benefit to our players in his new role.
About Jason Manson 5/25/2021... - Link to source

What the hell are we talking about? It's stupid. I have no idea. Plus, I do know this, I saw across the field (Nebraska) had a little clap routine for third downs or something, I don’t know. This is stuff in my 22nd year, I've never heard or been thinking about that. Never heard of it. It's football. Maybe they need to change their cadence, if it was interfering with the cadence.

Now if a player on the field was doing it to try to (disrupt the snap), I get that. But what are we talking about? The next thing you know, we're going to be treating this like golf...(simulates small hand clap) where nobody is allowed to say anything. Sorry, no.

What are they talking about? It's football. It's football. Are they OK with how I dressed today? Should I be changing my pants or (into) a different shirt? What are we talking about? I'm distracted right now.
...from Iowa vs. Nebraska on 11/27/2020

So if you get a guy that has got that ability, it’s a really good thing at the end of the day, centers are the MVPs. Quarterbacks think they are big shots, but if they don’t get the ball, they are going nowhere. You can’t play a game without a center, so it’s just a really important position.
11/17/2020... - Press conference notes - Link to source

Figured we'd take Floyd with us and leave the timeouts here.
...from Iowa vs. Minnesota on 11/13/2020 - Iowa called all of it's 3 timeouts at the end of the game after Minnesota called timeout to try and score down 35-0.

As long as I have a voice at Iowa (hopefully I'll have it for a while) we're not playing out here (in Arizona and California) non-league games. If they want to come to our place, that's fine. But traveling out here and doing the time change, and then you know we had a two-hour rain delay at Arizona State, we're not going down that road again, I can assure you that.
12/26/2019... - Discussing playing regular season games on the west coast (as opposed to bowl games)

It's kind of like losing a star player. When you lose one, other people need to step up and push through it.
9/18/2010... - About coaching without Norm Parker

Like a lot of people who get into coaching, I was impacted by the people in my life. Certainly my father (John) who coached me in youth league baseball, and my high school coach, Joe Moore, were mentors and major influences.

This is like the most overrated holiday in the world, and I haven't seen too many of them. I just hope nobody bangs any pots or pans for the guys that are sleeping.
- Referring to New Year's Eve prior to a bowl game

You guys are always asking me about why I like to be at Iowa, ... I don't read the Internet, as you know, but I get stuff handed to me by people in the office. I'm reading about Michigan as much as I can, and boy, it's a pretty tough audience up there.

I have no problem with two teams claiming to be national champions at the end of the year. But that's our society. We're dying to know who the champion is. Heaven forbid we have two. That would be socialist, right

After that game, we probably would have signed on for any bowl that would have taken us. I probably would have signed in blood that evening. I'm glad that we didn't, but at that point there were all kinds of things racing through all of our minds.
...from Iowa vs. Florida on 1/2/2006 - Prior to the 2006 Outback Bowl, referencing the loss to Northwestern earlier in the season

Recruiting at Iowa has never been easy, and I don't think it ever will be. Our biggest challenge has always been to get people to visit our campus. If we can get them here, I feel like we give ourselves a chance because we do have a lot to offer.

FAMOUS QUOTES about Kirk Ferentz

Coach Ferentz has taken it upon himself to better the program, and I admire that he’s willing to do the work. He’s made a commitment to these young men and the program, and he wants to see it through. [The committee has] been a great opportunity to help with Coach Ferentz's decisions, and we're moving the needle in the proper direction. - Link to source
Colin Cole on 8/20/2021... - Explaining the importance of the 11-person football advisory committee launched in 2020.

I have to take my hat off to Coach Ferentz. He’s a good man. He’s more than just a coach for me. There were times when I thought Coach Ferentz would be like, `I can’t deal with you anymore. You’ve made too many mistakes.’ But he stuck by me. He told me everything was going to be cool and that I had to make the best of it. - Link to source
Jermelle Lewis on 11/24/2004...

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Kirk Ferentz - Iowa Hawkeyes Coach Profile | Football - Summary of Iowa football and basketball games

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Kirk Ferentz

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FAMOUS QUOTES from Kirk Ferentz

FAMOUS QUOTES about Kirk Ferentz

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