Iowa elevates Jon Budmayr to wide receivers coach: Was this the right move?

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa football completed its coaching staff by elevating senior special assistant Jon Budmayr to wide receivers coach, the program announced Wednesday.

It long was an expected move for Budmayr, who had represented the receivers in staff meetings since early January when former coach Kelton Copeland was dismissed. Budmayr, 33, has worked as an offensive analyst and special assistant to the head coach the last two seasons at Iowa.

“Jon is an excellent coach and a perfect fit for this position,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement. “He has a wealth of knowledge and a familiarity with our program that make him a natural to take this role.”

Budmayr played quarterback at Wisconsin until the 2010 season when an injury forced him to retire. He worked as a student assistant with the Badgers for two years and later as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh when Paul Chryst was named head coach in 2013. Budmayr then followed Chryst back to Wisconsin where he became a quality control assistant and eventually quarterbacks coach for three seasons.

In 2021, Colorado State hired Budmayr as offensive coordinator, where he stayed for one season. He has spent the last two seasons at Iowa in an off-field role primarily working with quarterbacks and the passing game.

What does this mean for Iowa?

At the surface, it’s viewed as a missed opportunity for Iowa. This position has dealt with high turnover and meager production over the last decade-plus. Of the 24 receivers signed as freshmen from 2012-21, only five finished their careers at that position at Iowa. In each of the last two seasons, Iowa’s receivers caught 76 passes, tying one another for the lowest output at the position since 1982.

Ferentz likes to hire good coaches and then figure out their spots rather than hire someone with experience at a specific position. Sometimes it has worked. Seth Wallace was a college wide receiver who has become one of the nation’s top linebackers coaches. Abdul Hodge was an All-Big Ten linebacker who coaches tight ends. Ferentz previously brought in current North Dakota State coach Tim Polasek to lead his offensive line despite never coaching the group. But it backfired when Brian Ferentz shifted to quarterbacks after mostly coaching offensive line and tight ends at Iowa and in previous stops.

Nobody questions Budmayr’s football acumen, but he didn’t play receiver and hasn’t directly coached the position. Based on Iowa’s track record of recruiting, developing and retaining quality receivers, his hiring is met with skepticism. Frankly, it’s warranted until that position group becomes at least net neutral rather than the team’s — and perhaps the nation’s — worst unit each year.

(Photo: Scott Dochterman / The Athletic)