Ex-Ravens assistant Ferentz re-signs with Iowa through 2025

IOWA CITY, IOWA — Kirk Ferentz has a new contract that will likely keep him with Iowa through the rest of his career.

Iowa announced Tuesday that it has signed Ferentz to a six-year contract extension through the 2025 season.

Ferentz, who is in his 18th season leading the Hawkeyes, will see his salary jump to $4.5 million per year under the new deal, with performance bonuses yet to be detailed.

Ferentz, the Ravens’ offensive line coach from 1996 to 1998, said he doesn’t consider early 2026, which is when his contract ends, to be the end date on his tenure in Iowa City.

“I’m not big on caps of any sort. We’ll just take it week by week and year by year,” Ferentz said. “I’ve never felt better, physically and mentally.”

Ferentz’s last contract, which was for $40 million over 10 years, was set to expire in early 2020. Ferentz’s massive buyout was subject to scrutiny under his previous deal, but a series of changes made by Ferentz — earning him the nickname “New Kirk” — led to a 12-2 season and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Athletic director Gary Barta said the buyout in Ferentz’s new deal is similar to the previous one, though he didn’t offer further specifics.

“My desire is for Kirk to retire at Iowa,” Barta said.

Ferentz and Oklahoma’ Bob Stoops are the nation’s longest-tenured coaches, having been hired within days of each other in1999. What is remarkable about Iowa’s decision to retain Ferentz until the middleof the next decadeis Kirk Ferentz that, just 18 months ago, many Hawkeyes fans wanted to see him fired.

Iowa stumbled through a 7-6 season in 2014, capped by an embarrassing loss to Tennessee in a bowl game. Ferentz was never at risk of losing his job — partly because of a buyout that would have cost the Hawkeyes well over $10 million — but he promised to take a fresh look at how he ran his program anyway.

“What stands out about Coach Ferentz is his ability to bounce back,” said cornerback Desmond King, whose relationship with Ferentz played a role in his decision to return for his senior season. “He’s very resilient.”