Ferentz adds his son and LeVar Woods to staff
Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz on Saturday did what he usually does when making additions to his staff — and this time he hired someone who once ate at the family dinner table.
Ferentz stayed within the Hawkeye coaching family by naming former Iowa player LeVar Woods to become the linebackers coach, and then he looked even closer to home and hired oldest son Brian to replace Reese Morgan as the team’s offensive line coach.
A former Iowa player who most recently coached tight ends for the New England Patriots, Brian Ferentz inherits a line that just happens to include his brother, James, as the starting center.
Additionally, Iowa football could be a sequel of the once-popular “My Three Sons” television show if youngest son Steve, an Iowa City High senior, joins the program.
“He’s looking around here,” Kirk Ferentz said earlier this month. “He’s looking pretty hard at Iowa, as you might imagine. If that ends up being what he does, that’s great. You know we’ll support him, whatever he chooses to do.”
Ferentz still is searching to replace offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe, who joined former Iowa assistant Joe Philbin’s Miami Dophins staff.
“I am excited to have LeVar and Brian, two men with strong ties to our program and high school football within the state of Iowa, join our staff,” Ferentz said in a press release. “LeVar and Brian had great careers at the University of Iowa, and both have enjoyed unique experiences and opportunities since their graduation.
“I am confident they will make positive and significant contributions in all areas of our program.”
Woods became Iowa’s interim defensive line coach during Insight Bowl preparation after assistant Rick Kaczenski left suddenly for a similar job at Nebraska.
The former West Lyon of Inwood star was a two-year starting linebacker during an Iowa career that ended in 2000. He played professionally for Tennessee, Arizona, Chicago and Detroit before returning to Iowa as a football administrative assistant.
Brian Ferentz was with the Patriots the past four seasons — going from a scouting assistant in 2008 to tight ends coach last season. The three-year Iowa letterman whose final season was 2006, played on 2002 and 2004 conference championship teams. He played in Orange, Outback and Capital One bowls.
When asked during his Feb. 1 press conference if Brian would be joining his staff, Kirk Ferentz said: “He knows more football than I know, I know that.”
Iowa athletic director Gary Barta told the Des Moines Register via text: “I’m excited about our two new football coaches. LeVar and Brian bring a nice combination of coaching, NFL experience and, of course, both have strong Iowa ties.”
Barta explained that the father-son relationship was discussed and considered.
“Obviously, Brian’s relationship to Kirk necessitated additional steps,” Barta wrote. “The process and the hire were approved according to university policy in the same manner as other similar situations across campus.”
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football
Wow. Didn’t think Brian would leave Belicheck land after a trip to the Superbowl. Once a Hawk always a hawk. Glad to have him a LaVar full time assistants.
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I think they will both work hard and do well. The key now is getting someone experienced as an offense coordinator…someone with imagination and hopefully some NFL coaching on the resume, since we will keep a pro-style offense.
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Nice to add alittle youth to the staff! Both are good hires! Go Hawks!
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Even most NFL teams are now adding spread offense to their game plans.
These are both great hires.
Conservative Kirk will need to tweak the offense to keep up with current college and pro trends.
The o-coordinator will be the most important hire that will make or break this program.
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Some serious football chops on these two guys. Brian F. coached GRONKOWSKI, for Pete’s sake! If he does half as good a job with the O-line, we’ll send three linemen a year to the NFL in the first three rounds. The LB’s have needed improvement for a couple of years now, and Woods will flat train them up. Next stop: OC. Mercy!
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good, now we need to step up recruiting !…hoke and meter have raised the bar and quickened the pace…the goal should be a 4-star for each level of the defense and 3 more for the offense..at mininmum….i see coach wilson has offered greg webb, a 4-star dt from nj…check out his youtube clips
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