Iowa Coaching Succession Plan

CP87

Well-Known Member
I know many are assuming that Brian Ferentz is they guy being groomed to take over, but my guess is that if an internal hire is made to replace KF, it will be Phil Parker.

We know KF is fiercely loyal, and Parker has been with Iowa for 20 years. We know Phil would like a chance at a head coaching gig (see quote from presser). Parker has been involved with Iowa's most successful unit, and he has coordinated it for 7+ years, showing some adaptability within his system and the ability to get guys to perform at All-B1G levels year after year.

I am not saying KF is above nepotistic tendencies (his son was promoted to OC at a P5 school with a very thin resume, comparatively), but I don't see him doing one of his long-time colleagues like that by endorsing Brian as his successor over Parker. I am also guessing that a Brian promotion might result in the loss of Parker, the leader of your most successful unit. On the flip side, a Parker promotion would still leave Brain waiting in the wings (he is 35 years old to Parker's 55); and if Brian decided to go elsewhere to get a head coach crack, he could make his mistakes at another school and still come back to Iowa down the road if he proves himself.

Anyone else feel this way? How do we feel about head coach Phil Parker?
 


If Kirk was retiring immediately after the 2018 season, there may be some merit to your argument. At that point Phil would be ready but Brian may not be yet. Then Phil could be head coach for 10 years until he retired and Brian will return to OL coach, probably in the NFL.

But if Kirk waits until 2020 or later to retire, then it will probably be too late for Phil to be head coach and Brian will be ready to take over. That is, unless Brian failed miserably as the OC, in which case Kirk will be fired and Iowa will look elsewhere for a new head coach.
 
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I know many are assuming that Brian Ferentz is they guy being groomed to take over, but my guess is that if an internal hire is made to replace KF, it will be Phil Parker.

We know KF is fiercely loyal, and Parker has been with Iowa for 20 years. We know Phil would like a chance at a head coaching gig (see quote from presser). Parker has been involved with Iowa's most successful unit, and he has coordinated it for 7+ years, showing some adaptability within his system and the ability to get guys to perform at All-B1G levels year after year.

I am not saying KF is above nepotistic tendencies (his son was promoted to OC at a P5 school with a very thin resume, comparatively), but I don't see him doing one of his long-time colleagues like that by endorsing Brian as his successor over Parker. I am also guessing that a Brian promotion might result in the loss of Parker, the leader of your most successful unit. On the flip side, a Parker promotion would still leave Brain waiting in the wings (he is 35 years old to Parker's 55); and if Brian decided to go elsewhere to get a head coach crack, he could make his mistakes at another school and still come back to Iowa down the road if he proves himself.

Anyone else feel this way? How do we feel about head coach Phil Parker?
Parker is the guy who should be running the ship, and I like your optimism.

However, the next head coach at Iowa even if Kirk retired today will be Brian Ferentz. The only thing we can hope for is that he either wins more than his dad (I don’t see it) or he completely tanks and gets replaced immediately with a competent long term head coach. Anything else is going to result in a Nebraska-style tailspin.

What’s really going to suck is that Phil will go somewhere and become a CFP contender wherever he does get a head coaching job. Book it right now. Farta’s excuse will be that Brian’s body of work speaks for itself (thanks Fran) and that we want graduation rates and more Ferentzes in office, not wins. This is just a game, after all.

You think all that is bad? Wait till Daddy ‘Rentz is the AD.
 




I think KF's willingness to promote Brian over bringing in an outside OC, or his willingness to nudge Davis out in favor of Brian (depending on how that whole thing actually went down), is much different than him favoring Brian over someone he has worked with for 20 years, and someone he has already promoted internally (from DB to DC) when he had an opportunity to make a change.

Based upon their relative ages (KF 62, PP 55), if the plan was for Parker to take over, I would think it would ideally happen within the next couple of years. After 2019 season KF is near AARP age with grand kids nearing those fun ages. How about a couple consecutive 10+ win seasons and going out on top :) ?
 


Parker is the guy who should be running the ship, and I like your optimism.

However, the next head coach at Iowa even if Kirk retired today will be Brian Ferentz. The only thing we can hope for is that he either wins more than his dad (I don’t see it) or he completely tanks and gets replaced immediately with a competent long term head coach. Anything else is going to result in a Nebraska-style tailspin.

What’s really going to suck is that Phil will go somewhere and become a CFP contender wherever he does get a head coaching job. Book it right now. Farta’s excuse will be that Brian’s body of work speaks for itself (thanks Fran) and that we want graduation rates and more Ferentzes in office, not wins. This is just a game, after all.

You think all that is bad? Wait till Daddy ‘Rentz is the AD.

Wow, you are way more down on the Ferentz era than I. I get stylistic Ferentz-fatigue and the frustrations over the same-old shortcomings, but objectively wouldn't you agree that KF has basically maintained the level of overall team success that Fry returned Iowa to? Sure, ideally you want each new hire to elevate the program above its previous level, but that is much easier said than done.

I have no problem with people who say, "I want someone other than Ferentz because I think Iowa can do better." That is certainly possible, and we pretty much know what we have currently (mostly average-to-good seasons, with occasional great).

But I think the most likely outcome of a coaching change, be it Brian, Parker, or an outside hire, will be roughly the same level of success (60% win rate in-conference over the long-term, occasional very successful seasons correlating to successful recruiting swings and/or easy scheduling). We have around 40 years now of that being the norm, and the most likely scenario is that it continues. If we can find someone to elevate us above that, we have hit the jackpot.
 


I think KF's willingness to promote Brian over bringing in an outside OC, or his willingness to nudge Davis out in favor of Brian (depending on how that whole thing actually went down), is much different than him favoring Brian over someone he has worked with for 20 years, and someone he has already promoted internally (from DB to DC) when he had an opportunity to make a change.

Based upon their relative ages (KF 62, PP 55), if the plan was for Parker to take over, I would think it would ideally happen within the next couple of years. After 2019 season KF is near AARP age with grand kids nearing those fun ages. How about a couple consecutive 10+ win seasons and going out on top :) ?
Wow! Phil is 55?! I just felt a whole lot older in three minutes.

I remember to this day Robert Smith of the newly annointed #1 Iowa Hawkeyes, streaking down the sideline on the first offensive series of the game for a 60 yd. touchdown, and a MSU defensive back by the name of Parker getting an excellent view of the back of Smith's jersey.

That was in 1985. OMG going on 33 years ago.
 


But I think the most likely outcome of a coaching change, be it Brian, Parker, or an outside hire, will be roughly the same level of success (60% win rate in-conference over the long-term).
A couple thoughts on that...

- Parker in my opinion would produce more wins. He's been in college football for a long, long time, he knows Iowa football better than Brian, and his unit has been successful for a long time. Often times it is the only thing keeping Iowa above .500. Brian can't say that. The NFL coaching thing doesn't translate to college ball. Ask Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier if they relate to each other.

- Kirk is 55% in conference play :)

There won't be an outside hire or Phil Parker as head coach. It will be Brian. I would bet my paid off house on it right now and sleep like a baby.
 


Brian’s promotion to OC was perfectly timed as everybody was ready for a change from Davis.

The timing of when Kirk decides to retire will be interesting. I could see Kirk stepping away after a very successful season. Kirk would benefit of leaving on a high note and assuming Brian’s offense was good and contributed to the success it would be easier for fan base to approve of Brian as the Head coach.
 


That's a pretty old head coach these days. Besides, if he was interested in being a head coach he would've been one by now.
 


Brian’s promotion to OC was perfectly timed as everybody was ready for a change from Davis.

The timing of when Kirk decides to retire will be interesting. I could see Kirk stepping away after a very successful season. Kirk would benefit of leaving on a high note and assuming Brian’s offense was good and contributed to the success it would be easier for fan base to approve of Brian as the Head coach.
That's an interesting observation. Kirk has always had his eye on the business end of things from his early press conferences to his well timed peak seasons to his fund-raising to setting up his son(s).

I think his fund-raising is wonderful and his (and Mary's) donations to the children's hospital are first class. But how much of it prevented him from doing his primary job until his back was against the wall (end of 2014 season, declining attendance, contract coming up)?

Think about that for a minute.
 


A couple thoughts on that...

- Parker in my opinion would produce more wins. He's been in college football for a long, long time, he knows Iowa football better than Brian, and his unit has been successful for a long time. Often times it is the only thing keeping Iowa above .500. Brian can't say that. The NFL coaching thing doesn't translate to college ball. Ask Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier if they relate to each other.

- Kirk is 55% in conference play :)

There won't be an outside hire or Phil Parker as head coach. It will be Brian. I would bet my paid off house on it right now and sleep like a baby.
Got a vacant lot that you want to build another house on? Hawk Gold is looking at moving back into the state.

Lightning will build the house in lieu of 10% cash down and written approval from the bank. And finish the basement at a charge per square foot.

This could turn into the real estate thread:)
 


Wow! Phil is 55?! I just felt a whole lot older in three minutes.

I remember to this day Robert Smith of the newly annointed #1 Iowa Hawkeyes, streaking down the sideline on the first offensive series of the game for a 60 yd. touchdown, and a MSU defensive back by the name of Parker getting an excellent view of the back of Smith's jersey.

That was in 1985. OMG going on 33 years ago.
Yeah....I didn't need to feel that old today. Thanks for nothin.
 


Got a vacant lot that you want to build another house on? Hawk Gold is looking at moving back into the state.

Lightning will build the house in lieu of 10% cash down and written approval from the bank. And finish the basement at a charge per square foot.

This could turn into the real estate thread:)
I won't build houses for anyone. I don't do it any more. For my kids or a new one for myself, maybe.
 




That still made for an entertaining exchange about ten days ago or so.
It was entertaining because of the "decent neighborhood" comment he made. If you've ever lived in a large metro area like I have (Chicago, San Anton, Sac, Denver, Seattle), you quickly understand that are very few "bad neighborhoods" in the state of Iowa.
 






It was entertaining because of the "decent neighborhood" comment he made. If you've ever lived in a large metro area like I have (Chicago, San Anton, Sac, Denver, Seattle), you quickly understand that are very few "bad neighborhoods" in the state of Iowa.
I've heard Sacremento, in particular, is an absolute doozy of a city. It's the only one of those five I've never visited.
 


No head coach in any program should be the one who decides to replace him, it's the AD's job. Sadly, ours is beyond incompetent. Look at the trouble K-State is having.
 




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