Iowa Coach Ferentz Nominated For Coach Of The Year

University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz is one of 18 semifinal candidates for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award.

Ferentz is in his 17th season as Iowa’s head coach. He has guided the Hawkeyes to a 10-0 record, the best start in program history. Iowa is ranked fifth in the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings and sixth in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.

Among Iowa’s 10 victories are two road wins over ranked opponents. Iowa opened Big Ten play with a 10-6 win at No. 18 Wisconsin, and two weeks later recorded a 40-10 victory at No. 20 Northwestern. Alabama is the only other FBS team with as many as two road wins over ranked opponents.

The Hawkeyes began the season unranked before moving into the top 25 following a win at Wisconsin. Iowa has steadily climbed in the rankings and was ranked ninth in the initial CFP rankings before moving to fifth in each of the last two weeks.

Ferentz ranks eighth in the Big Ten Conference in both overall wins (125) and conference wins (74). He has led Iowa to 12 bowl games in the last 14 seasons, including seven January bowls. He's led Iowa to nine first-division finishes in the Big Ten, including winning the conference in both 2002 and 2004.

Semifinal voting for of the Maxwell Football Club Collegiate Coach of the Year Award begins on Monday, Nov. 23 and will close on Monday, Dec. 7. The final round will include the top three coaches selected in the semifinal round. Finalist voting opens Dec. 8 and runs until Dec. 20. The winner will be announced on Dec. 21.

Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA head football coaches, sports Information directors, and selected national media.

[VIA HawkeyeSports]