Kirk Ferentz, the face of the Iowa Hawkeyes, has been a fixture for decades now. He’s shaped the program into something that’s almost synonymous with reliability and, honestly, a decent amount of success.
As he heads into what’ll be his 28th season, the whole retirement question is getting harder to ignore. At 70, Ferentz is still figuring out how to deal with all the new stuff in college football—NIL rules, the transfer portal, the works.
Even with all these changes, he’s still a force on the sidelines. Iowa keeps racking up achievements under his watch.
ESPN’s got him back on its retirement watch list for the 2026 season, which, fair enough. But if you ask me, Ferentz doesn’t exactly seem like he’s itching to leave just yet.
The Legacy of Kirk Ferentz
Ferentz hit 70 on August 1, and not long after, he became the Big Ten’s all-time leader in coaching wins. He’s sitting at 213-128 at Iowa, which is just wild when you think about it.
No one’s been head coach at Iowa longer, and honestly, not many have been more decorated. He’s made the Hawkeyes a model of steadiness.
He’s taken Iowa to 13 straight bowl games. Since 2016, they’ve had at least eight wins each year, except for that weird pandemic season where they went 6-2.
Adaptation Amidst Change
Ferentz, despite being one of the oldest coaches out there, hasn’t exactly gotten stuck in his ways. NIL, the transfer portal—these things have changed everything.
But he’s managed to tweak his approach and keep Iowa competitive. That can’t be easy, right?
Recent Achievements
Last season, Iowa finished 9-4 under Ferentz. All four losses were heartbreakers—five points or less, including a close one to Indiana, who ended up winning it all.
He still seems to have the energy for this. If you watch him, he’s not acting like someone ready to hang it up.
What’s Next for Ferentz?
So, is this the end? Hard to say. The retirement talk isn’t going anywhere, especially as he racks up more years at Iowa.
But with the way he talks about the game and the way his teams keep performing, it wouldn’t shock me if he sticks around a little longer.
Potential Milestones
One thing left on his to-do list? Getting Iowa to a College Football Playoff. That’d be a storybook ending, wouldn’t it?
With another strong roster this year, maybe it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.
Continued Impact
Ferentz’s influence goes way beyond the win column. He’s built a program that just feels solid, year after year.
Even after he eventually steps down, his mark on Iowa football isn’t going anywhere. That kind of stability is rare, and honestly, pretty impressive.
Conclusion
Kirk Ferentz’s time at Iowa? It’s honestly a wild mix of resilience and sheer stubbornness. After nearly three decades, folks still wonder when he’ll hang it up.
But every season, he shows up with that same fire. The man just loves coaching, and if you ask me, it doesn’t seem like he’s done yet.
Will he ever get Iowa to the CFP? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, his place as a Hawkeye legend feels pretty much locked in.
If you’re curious about the full story or what’s next, the original article has more details.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
