Kirk Ferentz confirms intention to continue coaching at Iowa in 2025

IOWA CITY — Kirk Ferentz removed any lingering doubt about his future following the 2024 season, indicating that his “plan” is to continue coaching at Iowa in 2025.

“Hope so,” Ferentz said when asked in a Wednesday news conference about coming back in 2025. “Do you know something that I don’t know?”

In all seriousness, though, Ferentz expressed appreciation for the “mutual respect amongst our team and people in the program.”

“The more the game changes, the more circumstances change, it’s still about being around good people,” Ferentz said. “Our key is and I think what we enjoy — I think I speak for our whole staff — when you get the right guys on your team, it's a lot of fun.”

Ferentz, already the longest-tenured coach in the FBS, will be in his 27th season at the helm in 2025. He is under contract through the 2029 season. He has a 204-123 record at Iowa and has led Iowa to bowl invitations in all but four seasons.

His teams won three Big Ten West division titles since 2015, including in 2021 and 2023. His teams won shares of a conference title in 2002 and 2004.

Ferentz is two wins away from breaking Woody Hayes’ record for overall wins as a Big Ten member — a record that he would surely break with a full 2025 season.

The road may get harder for Ferentz and the Hawkeyes in 2025, though, as they graduate several seniors and key players on both sides of the ball. Marquee opponents on the 2025 schedule include Oregon, Penn State, Indiana and USC.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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