Iowa amends Brian Ferentz contract, adds unique incentives

Changes are being made with offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz. However, they are most likely changes Iowa fans will not be a fan of. Ferentz will receive a different contract than usual for the Hawkeyes, with a more incentive based deal being made.

Iowa made the deal official on Monday, although the contract went into effect on Feb. 1. Expectations for the Hawkeyes offense must not be high internally, with Ferentz having a low bar to meet offensively during the 2023 season.

“The contract amendments include a salary of $850,000, effective Feb. 1, 2023,” a statement from the school said said. “The Designated Performance Objectives for the 2023 season include an average of at least 25 points per game and a minimum of seven wins, including regular season and a possible bowl game.”

If Iowa gets to seven wins and averages at least 25 points per game, a bonus will be thrown in the direction of Ferentz. He will also get back a rolling two-year agreement with the program, seemingly having a one-year prove it deal for the fall.

All-in-all, Ferentz has a $50,000 pay cut but will have the opportunity to earn it all back, plus some.

In comparison across the country, Ferentz will have not too high of expectations to meet. A total of 85 teams accomplished at least 25 points per game a season ago. Iowa was at 17.7 and surprisingly, four Power Five programs were below them (Colorado, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, and Virginia). Those are not exactly the schools you want to be clumped with.

As for the win accomplishment, if the Iowa offensive improves, the goal should be achievable. Eight wins were secured with last season’s scoring offense. Had the Hawkeyes scored exactly 25 points in every game last year, they are walking around with a Big Ten West Championship and 10 wins.

If Ferentz meets the goal, the sky could be the limit in Iowa City.

Kirk Ferentz defends son’s spot as Iowa offensive coordinator

In October, calls grew louder and louder about Brian Ferentz’s future as Iowa offensive coordinator, and that led Kirk Ferentz to get into quite an exchange with a reporter and defend his son’s performance in the role.

“I think you’re talking about two separate job descriptions and two separate areas of responsibility,” Ferentz said following Iowa’s 54-10 loss to Ohio State. “I know people do it, I know it’s been done this year. Again, it’s just not my preference. My preference has been [to] play it out, and there’s evidence to show that it’s worked pretty well in the past.

“We’ll play it out and then we’ll do our assessments and our evaluations when everything’s over. The season’s not over. When the season’s over, we’ll make an evaluation on what’s best for our program.”