So seeing my favorite college coach jump ship to my favorite pro team would involve some mixed emotions.

You summarize KF’s Iowa career fairly well, although to say Iowa has dropped to the “lower reaches” of the Big 10 conference is unfair. Iowa finished with a 5-3 B10 record this year, tying for 3rd, and lost their three conference games by a combined 11 points. The upset win over #3 Penn State was for the ages. After having two years marred by attrition, off the field issues and maddeningly inconsistent play, KF very much righted the ship this year and has Iowa poised to again make a run at the nation’’s elite. He has had a Big Ten record of .500 or better 7 times in the last 8 years, and won 5 or more conference games 5 times in the last 7. He is a consistent winner at a place with no recruiting base.

Ferentz’s NFL appeal, in addition to his past experience in the league, is his professionalism and demeanor. The guy is as steady and even-keeled as they come. He’s neither a “players coach” nor a Tom Coughlin. He splits the middle. He runs a pro-style offense (no spread like 80% of college teams, kiss the Arrowspread goodbye), likes to utilize the tight end and runs with zone blocking schemes (think Denver) and prefers a defensive scheme focused on discipline and gap control, stopping the run, and preventing the big play in the passing game. KC might still be susceptible to short passes, but the days of being fooled by reverses and bootlegs should end.

He is friendly, approachable, and a good family man. He’s in his early 50s and will be around for 10 years if he succeeds. Press conferences will be neither strangly embarrassing nor particularly revealing. He has ties throghout all levels of football and should be able to put together a top-notch staff. The best word I can use to describe Kirk Ferentz is class.

Having said that, he has been out of the NFL for a decade. He has repeatedly expressed his love for Iowa City, where he has a son on the team and another kid in high school, and I’m not sure he’d take the job if offered. If he did though, I think KC would be getting a great, great coach.

college coaches don’t generally succeed in the NFL. I’m sure Capt. Kirk does just fine by the Hawkeyes. He should stay there.

I am not impressed with the lack of success experienced by the subordinate staff at NE once they leave Papa Bellichek.

I would look elsewhere for a coach

I was listening to espn reporters covering his bowl week they marveled at how well run and organized his practices were. I like that he has been an actual head coach and with his ties to Pioli I think they would assemble a strong staff. I like McDanils work as offensive Co and I wouldn’t be upset with him. Still former Pats coaches have fizzled away from the nest. All things equal I’d take Ferentz.

i have mixed feelings.
1) historically, college coaches struggle comming into the nfl.
2) if he could succeed in the nfl, it night be a good thing since most of this team just came out of college so maybe he could hold their attention to the game in practices and meetings. and especially in the locker room at halftime to make adjustments and play 2 solid halfs

He’s had the same defensive coordinator, Norm Parker, his entire Iowa career. He’s more an offensive coach so I don’t know how hands on he is with his defenses.

Iowa’s defense doesn’t blitz much, plays the corners and safeties back, and focuses on sound tackling, stopping the run and not giving up the big play. It’s often described as “BBDB.” KF’s best defenses have been when he has a good DL that can occupy blockers, collapse the pocket, and free up the linebackers to make 90% of the tackles. He’s had some great ones like Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge. It can be frustrating to watch an opposing team move the ball between the 20s, but, Iowa’s defenses have consistently ranked near the top of the Big 10. For his defense to work KC would absolutely, postively have to get WAY better at defensive end and generate a consistent pass rush. Otherwise pro offenses would pick it apart and dominate time of possession like mad.

Another factor is that there are some awesome Iowa players in the pros right now, and maybe some would relish the chance to again play for KF when they hit free agency. Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark, Nate Kaeding, Matt Roth, Eric Steinbach, Chad Greenway, Sean Considine, all these guys are Pro-bowl or near Pro-bowl level guys.

FWIW, I’m not trying to sell this, and I agree that many college coaches have had trouble making the transition. He had a couple sub-par years in 2006 and 2007, and his record in close games the last four seaons is not at all good. It’s also not coincidence, however, that Ferentz’s name comes up every year. He’s incredibly respected in the coaching fraternity.

Donny has it right. Ferentz is a top-notch coach and Iowa has been lucky to have him. He started with an empty cupboard and within a few years had won two conference titles, with 3 straight seasons of 10 or more wins and 3 straight top ten finishes. The program then took a dip over a couple of years due to various issues, including one highly-ranking recruiting class that bombed out, but is back on the upswing with a 9-4 record this year and a lot of young talent.

As much as I would hate for Iowa to lose Ferentz, I’d be happy to have him as the next coach of the Chiefs. He is extremely organized and does a great job of recognizing and developing talent (most of his players who have gone on to the NFL were low-ranked recruits coming out of high school and some were walk-ons). The people who have worked for him and the players who have played for him all seem to rave about the guy.