Kirk Ferentz one win away from passing Woody Hayes as Big Ten's winningest coach

 

by: Brett McMurphy

September 3, 2025

Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images.

 

LAS VEGAS – The (soon-to-be) winningest coach in Big Ten history starts laughing when reminded of how his Iowa career began. Kirk Ferentz lost 18 of his first 20 games – and admits he was fortunate he didn’t start 0-20.

Now, 27 years and 329 games later, Ferentz is one win shy of passing Woody Hayes as the Big Ten’s winningest coach. That will come either Saturday at rival Iowa State or the following week at home vs. UMass.

“I go back, like, ‘how the hell did this happen?’” Ferentz told On3 this summer.

A funny thing about Ferentz’s success is that he never really wanted to be a head coach. 

A former assistant at Iowa under Hayden Fry, Ferentz served as an offensive line coach for six seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens from 1993 to 1998. During that time, he paid attention to Iowa, Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin and Bill Snyder at Kansas State.

“In college, there was a better opportunity for family stability than in the NFL,” Ferentz said. “I really enjoyed coaching in the NFL, but I told my wife (Mary) early in our time in Cleveland that odds were we would be moving every 3-5 years.”

In 1999, Ferentz left the NFL when he was hired at Iowa. “I wanted to be successful, but if it didn’t work out, it wasn’t going to end my life,” Ferentz said. “I was perfectly happy going back (to the NFL) as a position coach.

“I know some guys have ‘got’ to be a head coach. I never wanted to be one, quite frankly.”

His success drew a lot of suitors. Ferentz had several opportunities to leave Iowa, but never did.

In the early 2000s, Ferentz jokes he “was the sexy guy in the room back then.” His agent, Neil Cornrich, approached him about a substantial NFL offer.

“Neil told me, you have to explain to your oldest son Brian, that this is ‘generational money.’ He’ll never have to work if you take this job,” Ferentz said. “My wife tells Brian (then an Iowa offensive lineman) that, and he looks at her and says, ‘I never asked to be taken care of.’

“That was a great parent moment. Like, you know, the kid’s thinking right.”

Ferentz recalls another NFL job he turned down. 

“I didn’t want to entertain it, and it was with a good owner, too,” he said. “A different college coach took the job, and I think it’s funny because that guy has no idea I was the first choice.”

Ferentz won’t name the many NFL teams and college programs that were “quote-unquote better jobs” that tried to hire him away from Iowa. Those so-called higher-paying jobs where donors would sabotage the athletic director or set up clandestine meetings with a prospective coach.

“I don’t want to swim in those waters,” Ferentz said. “At least I don’t have to worry about that shit. They love you when they love you, but they can cut and run pretty quick too. So I just never want to get involved in that.”

Ferentz has had a remarkable run with the Hawkeyes. He’s had only one losing season in the last 24 years. He’s been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times, won two Big Ten titles and led the Hawkeyes to two BCS/New Year’s 6 bowls.

He’s 205-124. He’s won games in every way imaginable. There was the 6-4 victory – yes 6-4 – vs. Penn State in 2004 and then the infamous 7-3 victory vs. South Dakota State in 2022.

Iowa’s seven points? The Hawkeyes had two safeties and a field goal. Iowa is not always locked in a defensive tug-of-war. The Hawkeyes have scored half a hundred 14 times under Ferentz, the only Division I head coach to coach three sons (Brian, James, and Steve) at the same college. 

On Aug. 1, Ferentz turned 70. His playing career ended after three seasons as a hard-hitting linebacker at UConn in 1976. He’s been coaching ever since. Remarkably, Ferentz has been coaching longer than 59 current FBS coaches have been alive. 

Ferentz knows he can’t coach forever. He believes when he’s ready to step down, “it’s probably going to be pretty obvious to me. Otherwise, I’m cheating the kids, and I’m not going to do that. Or someone else is going to tell me to sit down.

“There’s no perfect jobs and every job has something you don’t like: speaking publicly or whatever it may be, making those appearances. But you do those things to do what you really love doing and that’s coaching. So if it gets to the point where I just start thinking ‘Hey, this stuff outweighs the good,’ then that’s the time to walk away too.”

When that does happen, Ferentz said he will not be involved in finding his replacement.

“Whenever I step down, I just hope somebody in the (Iowa) family is allowed to elevate,” Ferentz said. “We have a handful of guys in the building that are really good. That’s not going to be my decision about that. They didn’t ask me, and I don’t want them to ask me. It’s not my call to make, other than I can endorse a lot of people that we have. I hope they get that chance.”

Despite Ferentz’s slow start to his career, he also got that chance. What a magical run it’s been.

https://www.on3.com/news/kirk-ferentz-one-win-away-from-passing-woody-hayes-as-big-tens-winningest-coach/

 

Williamsburg football begins new era under former Raider and Iowa Hawkeye Austin Blythe

 

Williamsburg opens the high school football season at Keokuk

K.J. Pilcher

Aug. 26, 2025 6:16 pm

Williamsburg Raiders head coach Austin Blythe gives instructions during football practice at Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

 

WILLIAMSBURG – Austin Blythe has played football at every level.

He has had successful coaches at each stage of his career, playing for hall of fame high school coach Curt Ritchie at Williamsburg, Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz and National Football League skippers Andy Reid, Sean McVay, Pete Carroll and Chuck Pagano.

What is the biggest eye-opener as a new head coach, replacing Ritchie at his alma mater?

“It doesn’t necessarily have to do with anything really on the field,” said Blythe, who played seven NFL seasons with Indianapolis, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City and Seattle. “Quite a few more administrative responsibilities. But there's still plenty of time for football. So far, it hasn't bogged me down too much to where I'm not enjoying myself.”

The hometown standout takes over a program that has won 150 games and qualified for the playoffs for 17 straight seasons. The Raiders were 7-3 last season and begin the Blythe era unranked by The Gazette. They open the season Friday at Keokuk.

“The pressure that I feel isn't necessarily in measured in the wins and losses column, at least, in my mind,” Blythe said. “It's about upholding the legacy and the standard that Curt has set. Obviously, he was very good and he's won a lot of games at (English Valleys) and Williamsburg.

“He's always doing things the right way and really that's what translated to wins. That's the highest on my priority list as far as my first year goes.”

Blythe, a 2011 graduate, will be tasked to build on the foundation set by Ritchie, while advancing the program and affixing his own stamp on it. He has a clear vision of Raiders football.

“I want our team to be described as tough, hard-nosed dudes that go out and play every Friday, and it doesn't matter what the situation is, we dictate to how we respond to everything,” Blythe said. “Just a bunch of guys that fly around and then they have fun.

“At the end of the day, everybody’s playing a game. I want the kids to have fun and to have that show through.”

The Raiders are familiar with Blythe, who had been an assistant the previous two seasons. The transition has been smooth since Blythe was named head coach in the spring.

“I find it pretty similar because he's been there the past few years,” Williamsburg senior lineman Carson Grier said. “We have like a lot new conditioning, so we got ourselves in shape a lot better this year. We’d run our conditioning and then football.”

Blythe was an all-state lineman and honorable mention Parade All-American as a prep. He was an all-Big Ten Conference center for the Hawkeyes and named third-team All-American by the Associated Press. That’s a lot of street cred for a coach and commands the respect of players, who are from the same town and grew up watching him.

“Since he's a prior athlete, he knows the mindset of others on the team,” Raiders senior Grady Wetjen said. “He's able to relate to everybody and tell them how he would get through it and he really makes us understand how things work and how we can make ourselves better.”

Williamsburg Raiders senior linebacker Dylan Weisskopf calls out coverage before the snap during football practice at Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

 

The preseason scrimmage against Benton Community helped answer some questions about the Raiders potential. A strong showing boosted confidence for a group, aspiring to return to the UNI-Dome.

“I feel like we have a lot of energy coming on the field and we are really at a good spot,” Wetjen said. “I think we can make it long ways in the playoffs this year.”

Blythe inherits an offense that averaged 40.9 points per game, allowing 15.8. The Raiders have a promising passing attack with playmaking receivers like Wetjen and Dylan Weisskopf.

Wetjen, the younger brother of Iowa All-American return specialist Kaden Wetjen, stands 6-foot-3 with a 205-pound frame. He will also start at nose tackle on defense. An unusual combination for a unique athlete with size, speed and athleticism.

“We have a really good wide receiver corps, led by Grady Wetjen,” Blythe said. “I think he’s poised to have a big year. Big kid, big frame but also super athletic. He moves well in space. He’s extremely fast for his size.”

Williamsburg Raiders senior defensive lineman Grady Wetjen (left) closes on quarterback Rogan Ackerman during football practice at Williamsburg High School in Williamsburg, Iowa, on Thursday, August 21, 2025. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

 

Rogan Ackerman and Cash Brown are the frontrunners to replace all-state QB Grant Hocker, who is at University of South Dakota.

Carson Grier and Griffin Becker will lead the Raiders in the trenches. Many of the same offensive names will have defensive roles.

“Athletic attributes and the tangibles, but also the intangibles,” Blythe said. “I need our best guys doing what they do best.”

“We're a little bit undersized by our standards. I think we've got maybe a handful of dudes that are over 200 pounds. We may not be able to go punch for punch but if we can outlast you, we might be all right.”

Grier noted the team’s camaraderie can be game-changing asset. The Raiders work together for the same goal. They push and support each other.

“We have a lot of potential right now with how well we've been playing and practicing,” Grier said. “We don't really have many downfalls because we just pick each other up nonstop.”

Emphasizing all facets of the game has been crucial to Williamsburg’s success, reaching the state finals under Ritchie in 2002, 2017, 2022 and winning the Class 3A title in 2023. Blythe said special teams is a priority and has liked what he’s seen this fall.

“I've played with some really good head coaches, who've always emphasized the importance of special teams,” Blythe said. “There's three phases of football, offense, defensive special teams, and if they aren't all playing together, it can derail a team’s success pretty fast. It's super important to have that phase clicking, just like offense and defense.

“It's really about buying in because some of those special teams guys don't necessarily start on offense or defense, but they play a very important role.”

Blythe said players have responded well to his demands, changes and additions. They were committed to strength and conditioning during the summer and have shown up with a purpose. The Raiders have embraced the new leader.

“They have laid a good foundation,” Blythe said. “Now, we're just trying to get our schemes, assignments and technique down. The kids are really buying in.”

WILLIAMSBURG RAIDERS

Coach: Austin Blythe (1st year, 0-0)

2024: 7-3, lost in first round of Class 3A playoffs

Top returners: WR/NT Grady Wetjen, sr.; OL/DL Carson Grier, sr.; TE/LB Dylan Weisskopf, sr.; OL Griffin Becker, sr.; RB/DB Owen Scott, sr.; FB/LB Sawyer Kirby, jr.; WR/DB Bowen Stratton, sr.; WR/DB Kale Bailey, jr.; OL/DL Malachai Williams, jr.; WR/DB Albert Bamrick, jr.

Keys to success: The Raiders have a strong group of receivers and playmakers. They will need to find someone to get them the ball, solidify the offensive line and play their signature aggressive brand of defense.

Marquee matchup: Oct. 3 – vs. No. 9 Nevada. Williamsburg’s homecoming game could determine the 3A District 5 title.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com

Pro Bowler Brandon Scherff quietly retires from NFL at 33 after $111 million in career earnings

 

By Christian Arnold

Published Aug. 14, 2025, 5:41 p.m. ET

A five-time Pro Bowl guard quietly retired earlier this year and it only came out after it was reported on in a spotlight feature done by his alma mater. 

Brandon Scherff retired from the NFL this summer after 10 years in the NFL, a 2025 Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame spotlight feature reported. 

Scherff had played seven seasons with the Washington Commanders organization, earning Pro Bowl nods in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Brandon Scherff (68) started every NFL game he played across 10 seasons, including his final three, which were play with the Jacksonville Jaguars.Getty Images

The NFL All-Pro — who earned the nod in 2020 — spent his last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

All told, he made over $111 million over the life of four contract per Spotrac, three with Washington and his final deal with Jacksonville, a three-year, $49.5 million pact in 2022.D

“It’s been something I could never dream of,” he said in the feature. “Sometimes I would tell my wife that she has to pinch me, because I’m playing a kid’s game, and being able to do it as a job is pretty amazing. Now, having kids and being able to see them after games is absolutely wonderful. So I would say it’s a dream come true. And I will be forever grateful to have had that chance.”

In a post on X, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that teams had been told in the spring that he was retiring. 

Scherff was the No. 5 overall pick in 2015 by Washington and during the course of his decade in the league, he played in — and started — 140 games. 

Brandon Scherff retires from the NFL as a one-time NFL All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowl honoree due to his performance on the offensive line.Getty Images

Scherff, a native of Iowa, was essential to Jacksonville’s surprising run to the AFC Divisional Round in the 2022 playoffs.

He will turn 34 years old this coming December.

https://nypost.com/2025/08/14/sports/pro-bowler-brandon-scherff-quietly-retires-after-111-million-career-earnings/