Avatar feed
Responses: 3
LTC Stephen F.
8
8
0
Edited >1 y ago
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that August 1 is the anniversary of the birth of head football coach at the University of Iowa, Kirk James Ferentz
Happy 63rd birthday Kirk James Ferentz

Background from hawkeyesports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1412
"Kirk Ferentz is in his 20th year as head football coach at the University of Iowa, and his 29th season overall at the University. With Iowa’s 27-20 win over Boston College in the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl, Ferentz recorded win No. 143 as Iowa’s head coach, matching Hayden Fry as the winningest football coach in program history.
With the start of the 2018 season, Ferentz will match Fry as the longest tenured head football coach in Iowa history, as Fry also led the Hawkeyes for 20 seasons (1979-98). Ferentz is the longest tenured head football coach in the nation. Ferentz and Fry are believed to be the only head coaches to lead a Division I football program for 20 years, consecutively.
Under Ferentz’ leadership the Iowa football program in 2017 made its 15th bowl game appearance since 2001. That success has been achieved with strong commitments to the program, the University of Iowa, and the ideals that represent Hawkeye football – hard work, determination, player development and character, on and off the field.
The Hawkeyes have won 28 games over the past three seasons, matching the third best three-year win total in school history. Ferentz has guided the Hawkeyes to eight wins or more in 10 seasons since 2002.
On the field, Ferentz’s approach can be described as smart, tough, and physical. Off the field, academics and character development are a focus. In 2018, the University of Iowa outperformed its peers nationally in the classroom for the eighth consecutive year, according to data released by the NCAA.

Iowa’s 8-5 record in 2017 included wins in three of four trophy games, with victories over Iowa State, Minnesota and Nebraska, plus the bowl win to conclude the season. The Hawkeyes have won 10 of 12 trophy games over the past three seasons. Iowa also began November with a 55-24 win over third-ranked Ohio State. Nine of Iowa’s 12 regular season opponents were bowl eligible (posting an 8-1 record) as the Hawkeyes faced one of the strongest schedules in the nation.
Iowa closed the 2016 regular season with three straight wins, including two over ranked opponents. Iowa posted a 6-3 record in Big Ten play to tie for second place in the West Division and finished the season at 8-5 overall.
Highlights of the year included Iowa defeating second-ranked Michigan and 15th-ranked Nebraska in the final month of the season, as well as earning a January bowl invitation for the 10th time during the Ferentz era. Iowa closed the year with an appearance in the Outback Bowl for the fifth time under Ferentz.
The Iowa football program enjoyed a historic season in 2015, posting a final 12-2 record. Ferentz led the 2015 Hawkeyes to a perfect regular season, setting a school record with 12 wins. The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten Conference West Division (8-0) before falling to Michigan State, 16-13, in a close championship game. The Hawkeyes earned their sixth invitation to the Rose Bowl, which was Iowa’s first appearance in Pasadena in 25 years.
Ferentz was recognized with both the Hayes-Schembecher and Dave McClain Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year awards in 2015. He was named Eddie Robinson (FWAA) and Woody Hayes national Coach of the Year (Columbus Touchdown Club), and received the Dodd Trophy, presented by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. He was also named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 3 Coach of the Year.

Coaching History
Ferentz’ coaching career began as a student assistant (1977) at his alma mater, the University of Connecticut. The next two years (1978-79) were spent at Worcester Academy, where he also taught English literature. He then served as a graduate assistant offensive line coach at the University of Pittsburgh during the 1980 season. That Pittsburgh team (coached by Jackie Sherrill) finished with an 11-1 record and a number two national ranking.
Ferentz joined Hayden Fry’s Iowa staff as the offensive line coach in 1981, which became Iowa’s first winning seasons in 19 years. The season was highlighted by the Hawkeyes winning a conference title and earning a Rose Bowl berth – both of which had not occurred in 20 years.
He continued as Iowa’s offensive line coach through the 1989 season and had great success coaching offensive lines that, to date, have anchored four of Iowa’s highest scoring offenses. In addition, eight of Iowa’s top 10 offensive teams, in terms of yards gained per game, have operated with Ferentz as the head coach or offensive line coach. And Iowa’s top nine passing teams of all time have occurred with Ferentz as the head coach, or offensive line coach.
Ferentz was named head coach of the University of Maine Black Bears in 1990 and held that position for three years before being hired by Bill Belichick and the Cleveland Browns to coach the offensive line. He remained with the organization after it moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Ravens, serving as assistant head coach and offensive line coach. In all, he worked six years with the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.
He rejoined the Hawkeyes as head coach in 1999. Now in his 20th season, Ferentz joins Hayden Fry (1979-98), as Iowa’s longest tenured head football coach.

Personal History
Off the field, family is the top priority for Ferentz. Ferentz and his wife, Mary, have been married for 39 years. They have five children: Brian, Kelly, Joanne, James, and Steven. They also have three granddaughters (Presley, Blakely and Connolly), and two grandsons (John and Forest). All five of their children graduated from City High School in Iowa City and earned degrees from the University of Iowa; and each of the boys had the incredible experience of playing football at the University of Iowa with their father as head coach.
Kirk and Mary are very enthusiastic supporters of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. They serve as advocates for the Children’s Hospital, hosting and speaking at events across the state to raise awareness and support for the hospital. Kirk and Mary established the “Ferentz Family Pediatric Research and Education Endowment Fund” in 2007. In honor of their granddaughter, Mary and Kirk donated more than $1 million in 2017 to establish the Savvy Elizabeth Ferentz Neonatology Research Fund. In addition, the Iowa Women’s Football Academy has donated more than $2 million to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital, which recently opened across the street from Kinnick Stadium.
Ferentz has also been involved in supporting a number of community and university-related initiatives, including serving as the honorary chair of the University of Iowa’s United Way campaign. Kirk and Mary have also contributed generously to the University of Iowa, including donations to the University’s College of Liberal Arts. Another significant gift was a $500,000 commitment to support the Iowa Football Legacy Campaign, which included two key projects benefitting the Hawkeye football program; the indoor practice facility; and the Stew and LeNore Hansen Football Performance Center.

Ferentz was born August 1, 1955, in Royal Oak, Michigan. He attended Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in English Education. He was a football captain and an academic all-Yankee Conference linebacker at Connecticut.
Ferentz received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut in May, 2009. He was inducted into the Upper St. Clair High School Hall of Fame in September, 2002, and the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in May, 2003."

Emotional Kirk Ferentz Talks About Son, James, in Super Bowl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IscRmrM5D6I

FYI Maj Robert Thornton CPT Scott SharonSFC Greg Bruorton SFC Michael Young 1stSgt Eugene Harless MSgt Ken "Airsoldier" Collins-Hardy 1SG Carl McAndrews SPC Douglas Bolton Debbie Pomeroy Cloud Kathlean KeeslerSGT Tim Fridley (Join to see) SSG David Andrews Sgt John H. SGT Mark Halmrast CW5 Jack Cardwell Cynthia Croft Sgt Vance Bonds SSgt Brian Brakke
(8)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SPC Douglas Bolton
3
3
0
Maj Marty Hogan Amazing! It is so hard to gain tenure as a head coach.
(3)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
2
2
0
Great bio share sir.
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close