Kirk Ferentz has had quite the run as head football coach of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, but is it time for a change in Iowa City? There has been growing displeasure among Iowa football fans, and probably with good reason. But instead of condemn the man from the start, lets take a look back at Ferentz’ tenure at Iowa. Former Iowa quarterback, Ricky Stanzi The 59 year-old Ferentz started as the head coach of Iowa in 1999, and had several years of rebuilding as he put his imprint on the program. The Hawkeyes finished with just 4 wins in his first two seasons before a relatively successful 2001 campaign in which the Hawks finished 7-5 with a win in the Alamo Bowl. Over the coming three years, Ferentz cemented himself into the hearts of Hawkeye football fans by finishing 8th in the polls each year. Following those three years of greatness, there was a clear drought in the program as they didn’t win a bowl game and never won more than 7 games in the next 3 seasons. Hawk fans began to doubt Ferentz, but only for a moment. In 2008, Iowa won 9 games and finished the season with a win in the Outback Bowl. The 2009 Iowa Hawkeyes began the season 9-0 before losing to Northwestern and Ohio State on the road with quarterback Ricky Stanzi sidelined. That team finished 7th in the polls, the top finish of a Ferentz team to date, after an impressive Orange Bowl win. The win in the Orange Bowl has been Ferentz’ only BCS bowl win. Ferentz’ success at Iowa peaked after winning the 2010 Orange Bowl Since then, Hawkeye fans haven’t had too much to cheer about. The 2010 team finished with a bowl win, but won only 8 games compared to the previous year’s 11 wins. Iowa has not won a bowl game since 2010 and the football program’s record in those four years have been a combined 26-25. Though the mark is not all too terrible, and includes an 8-5 season in 2013, does it really make the cut…
Continue Reading: Iowa Football: Ferentz on the hot seat in 2015
