Brian Ferentz to join Fresno State staff as offensive assistant coach, per report

Fresno State is set to hire Brian Ferentz as an offensive assistant coach for 2025, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports. Ferentz was formerly the offensive coordinator at Iowa and is the son of Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz.

Brian Ferentz started at Iowa as an offensive line coach in 2012 and was promoted to offensive coordinator by the 2017 season. He held that role until being let go following the 2023 season and spent this past year as an offensive analyst at Maryland.

The Hawkeyes never finished higher than 87th in the country in total offense in any of Ferentz’s seven seasons as the offensive coordinator. Additionally, they ranked last in total offense and 132nd in scoring offense during his final season.

As much as Brian Ferentz failed to produce results in points and yards during his tenure at Iowa, he did seem to have a knack for developing tight ends. He coached several players at the position who would go on to successful NFL careers including George Kittle, Sam LaPorta, T.J. Hockenson and others.

Ferentz was also a tight ends coach for the New England Patriots in 2011, working with five-time Pro Bowler Rob Gronkowski. He helped Gronkowski to a career-best season that year as he posted 90 catches for 1,327 yards and a league-leading 17 touchdowns.

The Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl that season but lost against the New York Giants. Ferentz then decided to leave the franchise and join his father at Iowa, where he would spend the next decade.

Brian Ferentz also played college football for the Hawkeyes from 2002-05 as an offensive lineman. He would go on to play two seasons in the NFL after that before beginning his coaching career as an offensive assistant in 2008.

Fresno State is coming off of a 6-7 finish this past season. The Bulldogs were led by offensive coordinator Pat McCann, ranking just 81st in the country in points per game and 106th in total offense.

It’s unclear exactly what Ferentz’s role with the team will be, but he’ll hope to help them find new life however he can. In addition to coaching tight ends, he was also a quarterbacks, running backs and offensive line coach at various points throughout his stint at Iowa.