Ben Hansen

Ben Hansen serves as the director of football administration and engagement at the University of Iowa after holding the position of assistant director of football operations for 10 years. Hansen previously worked with the Iowa defensive line as a student assistant (2009-11).

In 2023, the Hawkeyes won 10 games, including their final four, to capture the Big Ten West Division for the second time in three years. Iowa advanced to another January bowl game (Citrus Bowl) and finished the season ranked No. 24. The Hawkeyes have been ranked in the final AP Top 25 five of the last six seasons.

Iowa’s streak of 11 straight bowl invitations is the longest in school history and its streak of 11 straight winning seasons ranks seventh best among power conferences. The Hawkeyes have earned 25 conference victories between 2020-23, matching its highest four-year conference win total in program history (1982-85 and 2002-05).

Iowa’s defense led the way in 2022, including posting just the second shutout in Iowa’s 35 bowl games. The defense led the nation in with seven defensive touchdowns, including two interception return scores in the bowl win. Iowa’s defense was in the top 12 in the nation in scoring defense (second), total defense (second), pass efficiency defense (fourth), passing yards per game (sixth), first down defense (10th), third down defense (11th) and rushing defense (12th).

The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, winning the Big Ten West Division title and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Citrus Bowl and was ranked 23rd in the final national rankings.

Following back-to-back narrow losses to open the 2020 season, Iowa won its final six games, all in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes were ranked 15th in the final CFP rankings and Coaches Poll and 16th by the AP.

Iowa won 47 games from 2015-19, the highest total in school history over any five-year period, and a total that ranked ninth nationally. Iowa won its final four games in 2019 and ranked 15th in the final Associated Press and coaches polls.

The Hawkeyes concluded the 2019 campaign with a 10-3 record following a 49-24 rout over No. 22 USC in the Holiday Bowl. The three losses were all to ranked opponents by a combined 14 points. Iowa was 4-1 in trophy games for the third straight season.
Iowa completed 2018 with nine wins and a final AP ranking of No. 25. The Hawkeyes earned a 27-22 Outback Bowl win over No. 18 Mississippi State to close the season with three straight wins. The four losses came by a total of 23 points and all were decided in the final minutes of play. Iowa tied for second in the Big Ten West Division.

The Hawkeyes posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record in 2015, winning the Big Ten West Division. Iowa participated in the 2016 Rose Bowl Game and the 2015 Big Ten Championship and ended the season in the top 10 in the final national rankings.

Iowa’s most recent bowl game invitations include the 2024 Citrus Bowl, 2022 Music City Bowl, 2022 Citrus Bowl, 2020 Music City Bowl, 2019 Holiday Bowl, 2019 Outback Bowl, 2017 Outback Bowl, 2017 Pinstripe Bowl, 2016 Rose Bowl Game, 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl and 2014 Outback Bowl.

Iowa has appeared in 13 January bowl games since 2001 and has recorded January bowl wins over Florida (2004 Outback), Louisiana State (2005 Capital One), South Carolina (2009 Outback), Georgia Tech (2010 Orange) and Mississippi State (2019 Outback).

 

Hansen served on the 2019 Teamworks Football Leadership Committee. He also served on the 2016 and 2019 Rose Bowl Advisory Committee following Iowa’s appearance in the Rose Bowl following the 2015 Big Ten championship game.

Prior to rejoining the Iowa program, Hansen served as a graduate teaching assistant while working towards his master’s degree at the University of Tennessee. He served as a board member for Partners In Sports while earning his master’s degree in sport management from Tennessee in 2013.

Hansen also served as an intern at Stanford University with facilities, operations, and event management within the Cardinal Athletic Department.

In his previous stint with the Iowa football program, Hansen worked with the defensive line in 2009 and 2010, as the Hawkeyes compiled a two-year record of 19-7. Iowa won the Orange Bowl following the 2009 season and the Insight Bowl following the 2010 campaign, defeating a ranked opponent in both contests.

Hansen also served as a youth basketball and football coach through the Mercer Aquatic Center in Iowa City. He earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation management from Iowa in 2010.

Hansen is a native of Hampton, Iowa, and graduated from Hampton-Dumont High School. As a prep he lettered in football, basketball and track.

Hansen was born Feb. 5, 1988, in Marshalltown, Iowa. He and his wife, Emily, have three sons, Baylor, Shep, and Graham.