Hawkeye offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz asks judge to drop claims of racism against him

IOWA CITY — Hawkeye offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz — among several defendants facing accusations of racial discrimination in a lawsuit filed by former players — wants a judge to rule in his favor and essentially drop the case against him, calling the claims “meritless, unsupported, and contrary to law.”

Addressing each of the seven former players named as plaintiffs in the federal suit filed in October 2020, Ferentz in his Thursday motion disputed and discredited their accusations — pointing specifically to deposition testimony he said contradicts earlier statements made in a sworn interrogation.

“B. Ferentz has had annual employment reviews by Athletic Director Gary Barta since 2012, and no complaint about any racial discrimination, harassment, slur, name, or epithet has been made against him at any time as a player or coach before June 2020,” according to the motion for summary judgment.

Throughout the motion, Ferentz cited players’ skill level, attitude, and work ethic among reasons they didn’t succeed — not any racial bias on his part. He aired concerns about a secret recording, addressed alleged incidents of racism, and shared details of player performance in the classroom and on the field.

Ferentz also tackled high-profile issues — like when players were told to stand during the national anthem or when a smaller group of Hawkeyes gave then-U. S. presidential candidate Donald Trump a jersey during a rally in the Field House.

“The presentation of a jersey to a candidate in January 2016 was no violation of any team or NCAA rule,” according to the motion. "B. Ferentz had no involvement, the presentation was not a racially discriminatory act by B. Ferentz, and B. Ferentz not punishing the white players involved was not racial discrimination against plaintiffs."

The lawsuit — ongoing for nearly two years — emerged from allegations on social media in the summer of 2020 about racism within the Hawkeye football program. The suit prompted contentious exchanges between the former players and Hawkeye personnel, including accusations of harassment and delay tactics.

A judge in June ordered UI to release all materials the players asked for from an independent and external review by Husch Blackwell — including reports on head coach Kirk Ferentz, his son Brian Ferentz, and assistant coaches Seth Wallace and Chris Doyle.

But Brian Ferentz this week in his motion disputed allegations against him — going player by player — and asked a judge to drop the claims.

Akrum Wadley, a star running back from 2015 to 2017, is suing for $20 million — accusing Ferentz of tarnishing his reputation to NFL coaching staff and painting a negative picture of him.

Ferentz denied playing any role in Wadley’s NFL pursuits — including talking with scouts or NFL representatives.

“Based on 20 years of playing and coaching, B. Ferentz believes that if Wadley were good enough to play professional football, he would have played or be playing, regardless of anything B. Ferentz said or his silence,” according to the motion.

Ferentz accused Wadley of changing sworn answers or recanting earlier testimony — including that Wadley reported every incident to UI administrators and Kirk Ferentz.

He also addressed specific allegations involving Wadley.

“B. Ferentz denies that he asked Wadley if he were going to rob a liquor store, gas station, bank, or any other place,” according to the motion.

To Wadley’s academic pursuits, Ferentz said the running back failed to pass all his classes in fall 2017, didn’t complete his foreign language requirement, and didn’t register for classes in 2018 — thinking, according to Ferentz — he would be drafted.

“B. Ferentz believes Wadley thought he would make it in the NFL draft or later and did not finish school so he could prepare for professional tryouts and the draft.”

Darian Cooper — a defensive lineman who graduated in May 2016, “admitted in his deposition that B. Ferentz did not mock, make fun of, or ridicule Cooper at any time regarding his hair, jewelry, tattoos, clothing, diction, or the way he walked,” Ferentz noted in his motion, referencing accusations in the lawsuit.

“Cooper admitted in his deposition that B. Ferentz did not use any racial slur, name, or epithet towards him at any time,” according to the motion, an assertion Ferentz repeated for many of the accusing players.

Although Cooper is suing for $8 million over loss of a professional football career, endorsements and sponsorships, and for “exacerbating his knee injuries,” Ferentz argued, “B. Ferentz had nothing to do with Cooper’s knees or injuries.”

“Coach Brian Ferentz did nothing to affect Cooper’s scholarship to play football at Iowa, complete his opportunity to get an education, cause him any knee injury, or impede his recovery from his injuries,” according to the motion.

Aaron Mends, UI defensive linebacker from 2014 to 2018, also admitted Ferentz didn’t mock or make fun of his hair, jewelry, clothing, or diction, according to the motion.

“Mends met with Liz Tovar and John Bruno of the university administration in 2018 about ‘what was going on at Iowa,’ but he admits he does not recall saying anything about B. Ferentz to them,” according to the motion.

Mends tore his ACL during a spring practice in 2018, didn’t play or practice that fall, and graduated in December 2018. Addressing accusations discrimination impacted Mends’ career, the motion argued, “B. Ferentz has an opinion that Mends was not likely to play in 2018 because he would be recovering from a serious injury.

In 2019, according to Ferentz’s motion, Mends was unlikely to play “because Iowa had better players than Mends to fill linebacker positions.”

“But defendant did not communicate his opinion to Mends at any time or participate in decisions about Mends’ playing time or prospects,” accrding to the motion.

Ferentz argued any lack in playing time was due to defensive coaches’ judgment that other Hawkeyes were “more skilled players, better athletes, and displaying better football judgment than Mends, including two starters at Iowa (Josey Jewell and Ben Niemann) who have played in the NFL for about five years.”

He also noted Mends once overslept, losing playing time he never regained.

In 2020, Mends returned to Iowa City to train for the NFL but had no contract.

“Because Mends left the university in January 2019, he was considered ineligible to use the Iowa training facilities when he requested in 2020,” according to Ferentz.

Mends specifically sued Ferentz for up to $300,000 annually for loss of coaching career because “B. Ferentz allegedly gave prospective employers and schools an inaccurate impression of Mends.”

But, Ferentz argued, “Aaron Mends has never applied to be a coach.”

“B. Ferentz has never been contacted by any coach, team, school, or program about Mends,” according to the motion. “Mends’ sworn statements that Coach Brian Ferentz prevented or affected his coaching opportunities are untrue.”

Brandon Simon, a defensive lineman from 2015 to 2018, had “very little to do with” Ferentz, according to the motion. Ferentz accused Simon of contradicting earlier testimony, and Ferentz distanced himself from allegations discrimination affected his playing time.

“Simon’s complaint that he did not make the travel list, dress for all home games, or play, and the coaching staff made such decisions to punish him because of his race has nothing to do with B. Ferentz,” according to the motion.

Ferentz, in the motion, said he thinks Simon didn’t play, travel, or dress for all home games because the team had “more skilled defensive line players than plaintiff Simon.”

“Simon did not make the two deep roster due to effort, attitude, size, and football skills, although that decision was made by other coaches,” according to the motion.

In his motion, Ferentz discussed Simon’s academic performance and complaints about the “frequency and unreasonableness of drug testing at Iowa.” He also responded to allegations he encouraged running backs to hit Simon in practice.

“B. Ferentz never asked players to hurt another white or Black player,” according to the motion. “B. Ferentz does not recall any hits on Brandon Simon or Reggie Spearman at his request that caused either of them any injury.”

Jonathan Parker was a kick returner, running back, and wide receiver from 2013 to 2016 — graduating in December 2016.

To accusations Parker lost playing time due to discriminatory practices, Ferentz in his motion pointed to Parker’s poor performance on one play in the 2014 TaxSlayer Bowl.

“Parker’s mistake may have affected his opportunities to play subsequently, including that he did not play in 2015 and only played two plays during games in 2016,” according to the motion. “The Bleacher Report described it as, ‘This might go down as the biggest brain fart from the college football season.’”

Responding to allegations an academic counselor discouraged Parker from pre-dental curriculum in 2013, Ferentz said he “had nothing to do with any delay of his becoming a dentist.”

Ferentz, again, argued Parker wasn’t good enough to “earn much of any playing time at Iowa,” and his lack thereof wasn’t due to racism.

In the motion, Ferentz reported Parker made a “secret tape recording” during a meeting with head coach Kirk Ferentz — after Parker was kicked out of practice for a back-and-forth with Brian Ferentz.

The two sides disagreed on what happened and who said what, and Ferentz in his motion said the secret recording and videotape supported his side.

“The secret tape recording by Parker does not contain the word ‘race’ or ‘racial discrimination,’ or any reference to race, or racial slur, or racial epithet,“ according to the motion.

“In a football practice drill that contained over 50 players and 10 coaches and assistants, the alleged use of a racial slur, name or epithet without some mention, report, leak to the press, text, or email of it by anyone for three and one-half years is consistent with B. Ferentz’s testimony that it did not happen.’”

Marcel Joly, a Hawkeye running back until 2017, sued Ferentz for up to $1.5 million asserting he’s been unsuccessful in job applications due to actions by the defendants.

“B. Ferentz has no reason to believe that he has given any impression about him to any school, team, program, or coaching staff,” according to the motion, adding, "Joly has never applied to be a coach.“

Ferentz denied numerous allegations of name-calling and discussions about tattoos and what vehicle Joly drove.

Javon Foy, a walk-on candidate for the Hawkeyes in 2019, was suspended from the football program in the summer of 2019.

“B. Ferentz had nothing to do with the decision to suspend Foy,” according to the motion. “B. Ferentz does not believe he ever talked to Foy.”

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com