Racial bias pervasive in Iowa football program, investigation finds

The Iowa football program under coach Kirk Ferentz has suffered from a culture that perpetuated racial bias against Black players and allowed some current and former staff members to demean and bully others, according to an investigation report released Thursday.

University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld said the report by an outside law firm shows the “climate and culture must and will change within our football program.”

Ferentz, the longest-tenured head coach in college football, apologized to Black players and promised changes to improve their experience.

“This review brings us face-toface with allegations of uneven treatment, where our culture that mandated uniformity caused many Black players to feel they were unable to show up as their authentic selves,” Ferentz said in a statement.“I want to apologize for the pain and frustration they felt at a time when I was trusted to help each of them become a better player, and a better person.”

In addition to a public report, the firm gave the university four confidential personnel reports on current and former staff who were accused of demeaning, bullying and verbally abusing players. Harreld said the university will address the allegations against those coaches, who were not publicly identified.

Last month, the program cut ties with strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle, awarding him $1.1 million in a severance agreement. Several players had cited Doyle as the major source of their mistreatment, an allegation he has denied.