Present and former Hawkeyes wait with anticipation for Kirk Ferentz’s next milestone

IOWA CITY — A hand-written note can go a long way, Bret Bielema knows that. It’s how he got his job on Kirk Ferentz’s inaugural coaching staff.

The former Hawkeye worked as a linebackers coach for five years under Ferentz and he still remembers the day the Hawkeye leader called him into the office to offer him the job.

Bielema thought Ferentz’s offer was because he played for the Hawkeyes when Ferentz was an assistant coach. Instead, it was because Bielema wrote Ferentz a note about Ferentz’s son, Brian.

“Brian ends up coming to camp as a prospect,” Bielema said. “I remember I coached him for four days. And after it was all said and done, I didn't really know Kirk much at time, but I wrote Kirk a note and just said, ‘Hey, kid was awesome to work with. Very, very respectful. I don't know if he's going to be a Big Ten linebacker, but he's a good football player, good person.’”

Ferentz remembered that, and gave Bielema his shot. Fast forward 27 seasons later, Illinois head coach Bielema is waiting for the news to hit — when Ferentz secures his next win and becomes the winningest coach in Big Ten history.

He’s tied with former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes with 205 wins. After three years at Maine, Ferentz has spent the rest of his coaching career with Iowa, a feat almost entirely eradicated from modern day college football.

Who knows if another coach will reach this milestone again. It’s a record thousands of Iowa fans have their eyes on now, and those who know Ferentz are eagerly waiting for the moment to happen.

“He has just an uncommon approach to doing something extraordinary,” Director of Athletics Beth Goetz said. “And you know, we're all privileged to get to see that up close everyday.”

Ferentz, however, hasn’t acknowledged it much. Nor will he bat on eye at the milestone until it’s done and behind him.

Instead, his former players and assistants are waiting for the news to reach their phones or to see it themselves, knowing the magnitude one more win means.

“Every time you get to see Coach Ferentz, it's good,” former tight end and Liberty High School Coach Scott Chandler (2004-06) said. “He's just a special guy, and he's meant so much to my life and in, really, my football career.”

Bielema and Chandler chose their goals of becoming football coaches decades after playing for Ferentz. They still incorporate elements of what the Iowa head coach taught them.

Rotating captains every game, three keys to victory, even just drinking a lot of coffee. That all came from their experience playing under Ferentz.

For the guys playing now, they realize the opportunity to be a part of this milestone is right in front of them. Of course, the Hawkeyes have to win for it to happen, but they can feel the excitement of a broken record as Iowa’s game against UMass grows closer.

“Yeah, that would mean a lot,” cornerback TJ Hall said. “KF has been coaching for so long, and I feel grateful for the opportunity that I could be part of the team, that he gets to break the record.”

The consistency Ferentz has shown throughout 27 years of football is the difference, Chandler said. No game was too big or too small, nor was one player.

Even with the 205 wins, it’s the way Ferentz developes men that stands out the most. Coaching beyond just a game, and bringing athletes from everyone together.

“It was probably one of the best decisions I made as a 17-year-old,” Chandler said. “And I look back and see how God has worked in my life since then, and how he's working in that decision. And I can't thank Coach Ferentz enough for being willing to take a chance on me.”

Loyalty, above anything else, stands firm in Ferentz’s reign.

“I'm grateful for KF. He says a lot of great words, helps me, helps the whole team, and keeps us (be) motivated, keeps us focused,” Hall said. “He doesn't really talk about that a lot because he doesn't want any distractions. But I know once we get that win, it's all going to be emotional day for us.”

An emotional one, but one Iowa fans — and the program — will never forget.

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com, sign up for my weekly newsletter, Hawk Off the Press, here.