Former Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe returning as quarterbacks coach

Ken O'Keefe, who was Iowa's offensive coordinator from Kirk Ferentz's first year as head coach in 1999 until 2012, is returning as the team's quarterbacks coach.

Iowa made the news official Friday afternoon after it was first reported by WHO-TV in Des Moines and confirmed by The Gazette and others.

O'Keefe spent the last five years with the NFL's Miami Dolphins, with four seasons as wide receivers coach and the last as senior football research analyst.

O'Keefe, 63, will work with new offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who played for the Hawkeyes from 2002-05 during O'Keefe's previous stint on staff.

'We are pleased to have Ken rejoin our coaching staff in this position,' Kirk Ferentz said in a release. 'Ken is an excellent teacher who brings a wealth of college and NFL coaching experience to our staff. During Ken's years in our program, the individual growth and overall performance of our quarterbacks played a major role in the success of our football team. Ken is a key addition to our staff moving forward. He is an outstanding person and a perfect fit to our staff.'

O'Keefe and Brian Ferentz take over for Greg Davis, who retired as Iowa's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the Hawkeyes' 30-3 loss to Florida in the 2017 Outback Bowl.

'I am excited to return to Iowa as quarterbacks coach,' O'Keefe said in the release. 'I look forward to working with Kirk Ferentz again, and the entire coaching staff. I gained valuable experience in Miami the last five years, but at the same time I am anxious to return to coaching and working with college players, and being back on campus at the University of Iowa.'

The Hawkeyes will be breaking in a new starter at QB in 2017 after C.J. Beathard's graduation. Sophomore Nathan Stanley of Menomonie, Wis., topped the offseason's first depth chart, followed by junior Tyler Wiegers and sophomore Drew Cook of Iowa City Regina.

O'Keefe's previous experience with Iowa included working with quarterbacks Brad Banks, the 2002 Heisman Trophy runner-up, Drew Tate, who was first-team all-Big Ten in 2004 and Ricky Stanzi, whose 2010 passing efficiency (157.6) ranks first in Iowa football history.

Coach O'keefe played a big part in my development at the quarterback position. Glad to see he's back in black and gold. February 4, 2017

Coach O'keefe played a big part in my development at the quarterback position. Glad to see he's back in black and gold. #GoHawks

— BRAD BANKS (@BRADBANKS7)

Iowa has two other open coaching positions after parting ways with wide receivers coach Bobby Kennedy and running backs/special teams coach Chris White.

Kirk Ferentz said Wednesday that Brian Ferentz would have input on potential coaching hires.

'I feel really good about the potential candidates,' Brian Ferentz said on Iowa's signing day internet broadcast. 'I feel like we've got a really good plan in place right now. It's like all of the recruits we've just talked about, what's critical for us is getting the right people in this building, figuring out the chairs for everybody to sit in at some point. But more than that, let's get people in here who understand the culture, who value the culture and are looking to perpetuate that culture with our players. If we can get that established, which I think we, again, have a really good plan in place, I think the future is bright if we can do that.'

'It's important that the coaches get here and start learning and most importantly getting to know the players they're going to work with,' Kirk Ferentz said.