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Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes prepare to swarm the field from the tunnel onto Kinnick Stadium.Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes prepare to swarm the field from the tunnel onto Kinnick Stadium.
Football

Kirk Ferentz Named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week.

ATLANTA – University of Iowa Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz has been selected as The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week, as announced by officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., on Monday.

The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week award honors a football coach who led his team to a significant victory during the previous week, while also embodying the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

Ferentz and Iowa held rival No. 25 Wisconsin scoreless for the second year in a row, rolling to a dominant 30-0 victory in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes posted 10 points in each of the first three quarters, with quarterback Hank Brown tossing a pair of first half touchdown passes. He finished the game with 222 yards on 20-of-24 passing. Tight end DJ Vonnahme caught the first of Brown’s touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown in the second half to carry the Hawkeyes on offense. The Iowa defense completely silenced a Wisconsin offense that had averaged 27 points per game entering the weekend. Linebacker Cam Buffington led the way for the Hawkeyes, racking up eight total tackles as well as a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Defensive back Jacob Wallace added his second interception of the season to contribute to the shutout.

The win was Iowa’s fifth straight over the Badgers. Iowa’s sixth-ever shutout over Wisconsin was also their second in a row, marking the first time in the series that either team has shut out the other in consecutive meetings in the 100-game history of the series.

Saturday’s victory marked the 215th win for Ferentz as head coach of Iowa, who started coaching the Hawkeyes in 1999. He ranks top 20 all-time in head coaching victories, leads all active coaches in wins and has the most all-time wins as a head coach at a Big Ten program. During his tenure leading the Hawkeyes, his teams have finished ranked in the top 10 four times, including the 2015 season which saw him recognized as the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year.

“This weekend’s victory was just the latest highlight in one of the most storied coaching careers in college football history. Coach Ferentz has set the standard at Iowa since 1999. Even as the longest-tenured coach in college football, he continues to reach new milestones with the Hawkeyes, both on and off the football field.”

Jim Terry, Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation

Off the football field, Iowa players have had success in the classroom, recording a 997 Academic Progress Rate and a 76 Graduation Success Rate during the 2024 season. The Graduation Success Rate measures the number of student-athletes who graduate from their school within six years of entering.

Ferentz has made a number of contributions to the University of Iowa community during his tenure, including gifts to the University’s College of Liberal Arts and the Iowa Children’s Hospital. In 2007, Ferentz and his wife established the Ferentz Family Pediatric Research and Education Endowment Fund, which is still active today.

“Coach Ferentz has been part of the Dodd coaching fraternity since winning the award in 2015,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. President and CEO David Epps. “More than a decade later, he continues to exemplify consistent leadership in all aspects of coaching and embodies the legacy established by Coach Dodd.”

Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc., The Dodd Trophy, college football’s most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy. The award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.

A panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member will identify the final list of potential recipients at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The No. 21 Hawkeyes (6-2, 3-2) return to action Saturday, traveling to Evanston to face Northwestern (6-2, 3-2). Kickoff is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. (CT).