Iowa Signed Kirk Ferentz To a Massive Extension Through 2026
By Ty Duffy
Kirk Ferentz new contract goes through 2026 and his salary goes up to $4.5 million.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 6, 2016
Clarification: Kirk Ferentz’s contract has been extended through January 2026, expiring after the 2025 season.
Iowa had one good season after a long stretch of mediocre ones. Kirk Ferentz got rewarded, in classic Ferentz fashion. The Hawkeyes extended him through 2026, and bumped up his salary nearly half a million per year.
The Hawkeyes did go 12-0 during the regular season and reach the Big Ten title game in 2015, albeit against perhaps the softest schedule among Power 5 teams. Iowa finished just 24th in SRS last season.
Before 2015, of course, Iowa fans were counting off the years and dollars until firing Ferentz became feasible. The Hawkeyes had not finished the season ranked in the Top 25 the previous five years and had earned better than a .500 record in the Big Ten once over that stretch.
This is precisely the news Iowa fans want to hear ahead of Iowa State – winners of three of the last five against Ferentz – and North Dakota State – five-time reigning FCS Champion and perennial Power 5 killer.
Not reported yet, and important, are the buyout terms. At face value, it would cost Iowa around $40 million to buy Ferentz out after this season.