Kirk Ferentz

Kirk Ferentz – Featured Speaker
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA (Upper St. Clair HS)
College: Connecticut
Experience: 34 years in coaching
Currently: University of Iowa, Head Coach

IOWA – HC, 1999-present
Baltimore/Cleveland – OL, 1993-98
Maine – HC, 1990-92
IOWA – OL, 1981-89
Pittsburgh – GA, 1980
Worchester Academy – OL, DC, 1978-79
Connecticut – GA, 1977

LWFA is excited to have Head Coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kirk Ferentz as this year’s featured speaker. Coach Ferentz is in his 13th year as head football coach at the University of Iowa. His tenure as Iowa’s head football coach trails only Hayden Fry, who led the Hawkeyes for 20 seasons (1979-98). Ferentz ranks second in longevity among Big Ten Conference football coaches (Joe Paterno). He is also tied for fourth in coaching longevity among BCS schools.

Under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have put together the greatest run in school history. The Hawkeyes won 11 games in 2002 and 2009 and 10 games in 2003 and 2004. With a 7-5 record in 2005, Iowa posted a four-year mark (2002-05) of 38-12, the best in school history. And, Iowa’s 25 Big Ten wins were the most ever by a Hawkeye team in a four-year span. No other Big Ten team won more league games over that four-year period.

Ferentz was named the Head coach of the Hawkeyes after serving as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line coach of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He had been a part of the Baltimore (Cleveland Browns prior to the move) organization for six years. Before being hired by Bill Belichick and the Cleveland Browns, Ferentz was named Head Coach of the Maine Bears in 1990 and held that position for three years. Prior to his time in Maine, Ferentz was a member of Hayden Fry’s Iowa staff for nine years as offensive line coach (1981-89).

2002 Associated Press and Walter Camp Football Foundation’s National Coach of the Year
3-time Big Ten Coach of the Year—1 of only 4 coaches to achieve this honor—placing him in elite company with College Football Hall of Fame coaches, Bo Schembechler (Michigan), Joe Paterno (Penn State) & Hayden Fry (Iowa)
Ranks 2nd in longevity among Big Ten Conference football coaches & 4th nationally in coaching longevity among BCS schools
Under Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have played in 9 bowl games, including 6 appearances in January bowl games.
42 players have been drafted since 2002, including 9 selected among the top 50
Since 2002, 91% (75 of 82) senior starters selected in the NFL draft or signed to an NFL free agent contract
Guided the Iowa program to great success in the classroom with a graduation success rate of 79%, which ranks 3rd among teams in the nation’s top 25