Marc Morehouse

Hi, I'm Marc Morehouse. I've covered sports for more than 15 years, mostly in Eastern Iowa. I've had Hayden Fry [...]
Updated: 18 December 2011 | 5:06 pm in Hawkeye Football, Iowa Hawkeyes, On Iowa by Marc Morehouse, Sports

Coaching rumor alerts (Kaczenski, Ferentz)

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We have a rumor alert regarding Iowa defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski. (Gazette file)

 

Might be something, might be nothing.

Footballscoop.com is reporting that Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini is targeting Iowa defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski for an opening on the Huskers’ defensive staff.

For what it’s worth, Footballscoop.com doesn’t just throw stuff out there. Two weeks ago, Carl Pelini, Bo’s brother, vacated his duties as Nebraska defensive coordinator for a shot as head coach at Florida Atlantic. Of course, you know that Iowa is in search of a new defensive coordinator since Norm Parker announced his retirement a week ago.

The timing here could — COULD — say that Kirk Ferentz has made a decision on defensive coordinator. Iowa athletics director Gary Barta answered a few questions on that topic Friday. The job needs to be posted for two weeks before it can be filled. Barta said it hadn’t been posted. Secondary coach Phil Parker remains a strongly viable candidate. Beyond that, it’s Ferentz’s call.

As far as recruiting, Kaczenski, who joined the Iowa staff in 2004 as a graduate assistant before moving to full-time D-line in 2007, is responsible for Florida, which this year has yielded wide receiver Greg Mabin and defensive end Daumantas Venckus. Last year, quarterback Jake Rudock and defensive back Torrey Campbell came out of Florida.

As an O-linemen at Notre Dame, Kaczenski played under the late Joe Moore, whom Ferentz counts as his mentor.

Whether this happens, of course, remains to be seen, but file under “might be something, might be nothing” and see what happens.

In other coaching alert news, it seems like the Kansas City-Ferentz thingie is extinguished.

Former NFL GM Charlie Casserly said on CBS’ NFL Today, ”One name rumored for the job that will not be there is Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. I talked to him this week and he’s staying at Iowa. I would not be totally surprised if Romeo Crennel is the head coach next year.”

Hey, he says he talked to the man. That’s as close to horse’s mouth as we might get here.

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Coaching rumor alerts (Kaczenski, Ferentz)
  1. Avatar Image
    matt james said: On December 19, 2011

    i always get a kick out of the rumor mill. As much as i wish KF would ‘consider’ going to the KC Chiefs, we all know that it would take an act of God for it to happen. One thing KF is not, is stupid. Iowa must be THE top coaching position in the country. Where else can you go, earn boatloads of money (in the top 10), and NOT be expected to compete for a Big Ten or National Championship each year? The answer is easy: NOWHERE.

    If KF wanted to make the jump, and NOT take a pay cut, there are going to be ‘expectations’ (or as we call them in the real world ‘strings’) that come along with it…division titles, conference titles, super bowl appearances…or some combination thereof. Those kind of ‘pressures’ don’t exist at Iowa because the fan base is so afraid of returning to the pre-fry years, they will settle (and please, let’s call it what it is) for the mediocre product we’ve been getting as of late (with much more to come), and “as long as we go to a bowl game” – all is good, and the lousy season is forgiven. Anyone in KF’s shoes would be an absolute dolt to want to leave that job…top ten pay, with middle of the road results.


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