Report: Former Iowa OC Brian Ferentz lands analyst role with Maryland

Brian Ferentz became notorious at Iowa for several reasons as the Hawkeyes’ offensive coordinator. Now, he has reportedly landed a new job elsewhere in college football, specifically in a role that’ll keep him in the Big Ten.

Per Bruce Feldman who reported via Pat Harty of Hawk Fanatic, Maryland is hiring Ferentz as an analyst on their staff.

“SOURCE: Maryland is expected to hire Brian Ferentz as an analyst for the Terps,” Feldman wrote in his tweet. “The 41-year-old, a former Patriots assistant, spent a decade at Iowa working as the Hawkeyes OL coach and later OC. He’d also coached TEs, RBs and QBs there. Pat Harty first reported the move.”

Ferentz, who played for his father, Kirk Ferentz, on the offensive line at Iowa from 2002 to 2005, served several roles over the course of his stints on the team’s sideline alongside his dad. He had spent the past seven seasons as their offensive coordinator but also had jobs with the quarterbacks, running backs, full backs, tight ends, and offensive line as well as a gig as their run game coordinator.

Ferentz also had a four-year stint with the New England Patriots as a scout, assistant, and a tight ends coach.

However, Ferentz’s notoriety picked up over the past few years with his work for the Hawkeyes. Over the past three years, Iowa’s offense hadn’t finished any better than 99th (23.4 points per game in 2021). That included being 123rd (17.7 ppg.) in 2022 and 132nd (15.4 ppg), out of 133 teams for reference, in 2023. During his seven seasons as offensive coordinator, the offense posted an average finish of 84th at 24.8 points per game.

This led to the school’s parting of ways with Ferentz after this past season. This came after they had already revised his contract going into the year with a dock in pay and a stipulation for the offense to score at least 325 points in the regular season, which they obviously missed by 109.

Tim Lester has since taken the role for Iowa as their next offensive coordinator moving forward.

Ferentz will now stay in conference and join the staff under Mike Locksley and OC Josh Gattis. Gattis will be going into his second season with the Terps in what will be Locksley’s sixth in College Park. Maryland averaged 29.7 ppg. in 2023 for the best finish in their half decade of this tenure. That brought their average up to 27.2 ppg. and a usual finish just inside the Top-75.

It’s been some time since an offense connected to Ferentz has found much success, if any, whatsoever. Still, with this hire, he’ll be back in the sport next fall in this role coaching for the Terrapins.