Ferentz’s son won’t return as Iowa’s OC in 2024
-
Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, the son of longtime coach Kirk Ferentz whose contract amid the offense’s historic struggles drew national attention, will not return for the 2024 season.
Interim athletic director Beth Goetz, who supervises Brian Ferentz because of nepotism laws, made the announcement Monday after discussing the situation with Brian Ferentz, Kirk Ferentz and university president Barbara Wilson. In a statement, Goetz noted that Iowa’s struggles on offense this season, combined with Ferentz’s contract situation, created “a unique situation” for the program. The Hawkeyes did not play last week and are set to face Northwestern on Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
“Making this known today is in the best interest of the program and its loyal fans; it provides clarity during this pivotal time in the schedule,” Goetz said in the statement.
“It is not my practice to be involved in assistant coaching decisions and certainly not to make public such a change during a season,” Goetz added. “Our priority is to put all our student-athletes in the best position to have both short-term and long-term success, on and off the field. Our football team has a group of outstanding young men and talented athletes, who at 6-2, have a lot to play for. As a former athlete, I know every opportunity to put on the jersey is a cherished one.”
Ferentz, the oldest son of Kirk Ferentz and a former offensive lineman at Iowa, has served as the team’s offensive coordinator since 2017 and has been on his father’s staff since 2012. In February, Iowa announced contract amendments for him that included an unusual points-per-game provision — the team would need to average 25 points per game during the 2023 season and win at least seven games for Ferentz’s two-year rolling contract to be reactivated beyond June 30, 2024.
Longtime athletic director Gary Barta, who crafted the so-called Drive to 325 provision and had supervised Ferentz, announced his retirement Aug. 1. Ferentz has since been reporting to Goetz, considered a strong candidate to land the permanent athletic director job.
“The way that it’s structured is unique,” Goetz told ESPN in August. “It’s going to create a lot of chatter, so how do we allow for that and understand it is what it is? That’s the agreement in place, so let’s just focus on what we’re doing. You beat another team by beating them by one or a tenth of a second, pick your sport. That’s how these people are wired.”
Iowa is well below the 25 points-per-game provision in Ferentz’s contract, ranking 118th nationally in scoring offense (19.5). The Hawkeyes are last nationally in yards per game at 232.4, well behind the next-worst offense (Eastern Michigan, 258.8). They have faced several setbacks, losing starting quarterback Cade McNamara and tight ends Luke Lachey and Erick All to significant injuries.
Since 2017, Iowa ranks 98th nationally in scoring at 25.3 points per game, but the offense has averaged just 20.4 since the start of the 2021 season.
“For the vast majority of my adult life I have had the privilege to represent the University of Iowa as a football player and coach,” Brian Ferentz said in a statement to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “I have always considered and will always consider it an honor. In that time my singular goal has been to contribute to the football team’s success. As long as I am employed by the University of Iowa my stated goal will not change. My priority will continue to be the well-being of our students and the success of our team.”
In August, Brian Ferentz told ESPN that he was solely focused on how he could improve Iowa’s offense and would accept any employment decisions the team made.
“We’ve been fortunate at this institution that we value experience, we value continuity and, most importantly, we value people,” he said. “But if the head coach ever walked in here and said, ‘I don’t think you’re the person to do this anymore,’ I would respect the hell out of that. And I’d walk out the front door.”
Kirk Ferentz, who has led Iowa since the 1999 season and is the nation’s longest-tenured coach, has had only three offensive coordinators in Ken O’Keefe, Greg Davis and Brian Ferentz. O’Keefe voluntarily left Iowa’s staff for the Miami Dolphins after the 2011 season and Davis retired from coaching after the 2016 campaign.
Kirk Ferentz is set to address reporters Tuesday afternoon in Iowa City.
“I’ve been here 34 years now, two different times, and I’ve never witnessed a coordinator being relieved of his duties,” Kirk Ferentz, an Iowa assistant from 1981 to 1989, told ESPN in August. “If you don’t think somebody is getting the job done, then yeah, you have to suggest maybe it’s time to move on or whatever. You just try to evaluate your people, that’s part of your job. We haven’t had much turnover here.”
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike