Paul Federici Announces Retirement

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Paul Federici announced his retirement on Tuesday after 21 years working with the University of Iowa football program. Federici finished his 16th year as director of football operations in 2025, after serving as director of athletic training services for five years.

“Paul has been an invaluable member of our program for more than 20 years,” Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He joined the team as an athletic trainer and rapidly became known for his skills, focus and commitment to the players. Several years later, Paul moved into the role of Director of Football Operations -- which he has held for the past 16 years.”

Federici assisted with the planning, coordination and implementation of Iowa’s daily operation and travel plans beginning with the 2009 football season. He also served as a championship team operations liaison at the college football playoff national championship games from 2015-19, served on the Rose Bowl Game Advisory Committee and was the Big Ten representative on the National Football Operations Committee.

“It is incredibly challenging to manage all the details surrounding every facet of a football program -- from logistics, to travel, to managing staff and player needs -- and Paul has made it look effortless,” Ferentz added. “We wish him well in retirement and thank him for making our program better.”

During his time on staff, the Hawkeyes won 172 games, had 18 winning seasons, shared two Big Ten Championships, won three Big Ten West Division titles, finished in the Big Ten's first division 19 times and appeared in 19 bowl games (including the 2020 Music City Bowl, which was canceled due to COVID). 

"It was a special privilege to learn from John Streif, Norm Parker, Ben Hansen, Andy Piro, Ken O’Keefe, Reese Morgan and Dr. Ned Amendola,” added Federici. "Each provided unique personal and professional perspectives for which I will always be grateful. Coach Ferentz's leadership and consistent messaging to staff and players on skills focused on lifelong success is the fundamental cause of Iowa Football's sustained athletic and academic success." 

Federici joined the Iowa Athletic Department staff in 2004 after serving as the head athletic trainer for the Seattle Seahawks for five seasons.

Prior to joining the Seahawks in January, 1999, Federici was the head athletic trainer at Vanderbilt University from 1994-99. As an assistant athletic trainer at Vanderbilt from 1987-93, Federici worked with football, baseball, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf teams. He was named head athletic trainer for the Commodores in 1994 and was recognized as the College Athletic Trainer of the Year by the Tennessee Athletic Trainers Society that year.

Certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association in 1985, Federici served as a test site administrator and host athletic trainer for the N.A.T.A. Board of Certification examinations from 1991-95. He has volunteered for the Tennessee State Amateur Games, the LPGA Sara Lee Tournament at Hermitage Golf Club, and the Senior PGA Bell South Tournament at Springhouse Golf Club. Federici presented a case study at the 2001 A.O.S.S.M. meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as the 2002 N.A.T.A. June Symposium in Dallas, Texas.

While at Vanderbilt, Federici served on several athletic department committees, including the Mission/Vision planning team, the External Communications Committee, the Management Team of Department Heads, and the Sports Nutrition Planning Team.