Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz signs revised contract with pay cut, scoring incentives

Embattled Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz has signed a revised one-year contract for the 2023 season, the college introduced Monday. Ferentz’s new deal features a wage reduce and a set of efficiency incentives he should attain to return in 2024, placing no less than some public strain for the unit to enhance. 

For Ferentz to return to his earlier two-year rolling contract, the Hawkeyes should attain a mere 25 factors per sport — by any means, together with protection and particular groups — in 2023. Moreover, the Hawkeyes should attain seven wins, which features a potential bowl sport. Ferentz accepted a $50,000 wage lower to $850,000 for the season. If Ferentz fails to satisfy both of the 2 incentives, his contract will formally terminate on June 30, 2024.

Calling the incentives manageable is an understatement. Outdoors of the 2020 pandemic season, Iowa has not received fewer than seven video games in a full season since 2012. The 25 factors per sport mark would have ranked No. 85 nationally in 2022, tied with Butch Jones’ 3-9 Arkansas State squad. If Iowa’s offense reaches these meager requirements, Ferentz will get a elevate to $925,000 and a bonus of $112,500 that might push his 2024 wage previous the $1 million mark. 

Whereas the brand new contract for Ferentz units a lackluster bar, it does for the primary time put reputable strain on Ferentz to carry out no less than a little bit. Ferentz, the son of longtime Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, has labored on his father’s employees since 2012 and coordinated the offense since 2017. In 2022, the unit tanked, rating forward of solely New Mexico in complete offense. The Hawkeyes ranked No. 123 at 17.7 factors per sport, bolstered by a protection that led the nation with six defensive touchdowns and added two safeties. (Consequently, the Hawkeyes offense technically scored simply 14.15 factors per sport.) 

Ferentz was elevated to quarterbacks coach in 2022 after main tight ends for the previous 4 seasons and produced one of many worst passing offenses within the nation. The Hawkeyes mustered simply 156.7 yards passing per sport, which led solely Rutgers amongst Energy 5 groups. 

The elder Ferentz defended his son throughout his Nationwide Signing Day press convention, stating that the Hawkeyes are 55-3 when scoring no less than 24 factors during the last a number of years. 

“I labored for a man for 9 years who there was by no means a coordinator fired his throughout my 9 years with Coach [Hayden] Fry,” Kirk Ferentz instructed reporters. “I am not planning on doing it. I have never achieved it.”

Nevertheless, the strain from above has clearly impacted the Hawkeyes’ course of. Along with Ferentz’s new contract, Iowa added 5 transfers, all on the offensive facet of the ball, after including simply two offensive transfers over the three earlier recruiting courses. Iowa added two quarterbacks to attempt to revamp the offense, together with Cade McNamara, who received a Massive Ten championship with Michigan. 

“I’ve no motive to suppose there’s anyone on our employees that is not competent or not working at it,” Ferentz continued. “So what can we do? And the overview means of the entire program is beginning Monday, however clearly consider your employees on a regular basis. That is a part of my job.”

After the embarrassing 2022 offense, nevertheless, the choice is perhaps out of his arms.