Should Iowa Fire Kirk Ferentz?

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 3:57 PM ET

Kirk Ferentz has been the head coach at Iowa since the 1999 season. Along the way he has won 205 games and taken the Hawkeyes to 21 bowl games. But an old nemesis has resurfaced after only two games. Iowa’s offense is once again inept. And because of that, discussion has re-surfaced that it may be time for a coaching change in Iowa City.

It is a tricky and unique situation for Iowa fans. Nobody will argue that the Hawkeyes offense has been pathetic, abysmal and embarrassing for the better parts of the last decade. The tricky part is that that the Hawkeyes still find ways to win.

When it comes to yards per game, the best Iowa has done since the 2015 season was to finish 72^nd in the country. Six of those seasons they finished 117^th or worse. And through two games this season, including a 16-13 loss at No. 16 Iowa State yesterday, they are averaging 286 yards, which puts them at 118^th in the country.

Sep 6, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) is tackled by the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

But as mentioned above, despite the lack of a reliable offense, the Hawkeyes continue to find ways to win because of a dominant defense. Since 2015, Iowa has gone 90-40 with nine bowl games. So, imagine how good Iowa could have been if they also had an even average offense? That’s the question that haunts Hawkeye fans.

As fans and social media simmer with the thought that Iowa needs a head coaching change, there are a couple of easy examples of why that may not be the best idea. You only have to look at two other Big Ten programs, Nebraska and Wisconsin to find out why.

The Huskers and Badgers were both consistent winners with an identity. Nebraska decided to fire Bo Pelini in favor of Mike Riley, while Wisconsin parted ways with Paul Chryst and hired Luke Fickell. Since Pelini was fired the Huskers have gone 52-70. Matt Rhule seems to be changing things around, but Nebraska lost a decade waiting for this to happen. Wisconsin’s sample size is shorter, with them making the transition before the 2023 season. However, it didn’t take long for Fickell to dismantle the Badgers’ identity. He has gone 14-13 thus far and in the process quickly raised plenty of doubts that he was the right choice as head coach.

You can easily make the argument that parting ways with Ferentz is reasonable. It makes sense in many ways. But it also did for many Nebraska and Wisconsin fans. And that quickly turned into regret. Lets see what the Hawkeyes decide to do in the coming months, but this discussion is not likely to fade away.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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