Iowa's History of Achieving Winning Conference Records in the Big Ten

[ChosenChildren]

Iowa just finished their 119th season of Big Ten football, starting in 1900 and ending in 2018.

There were 79 seasons prior to Hayden ( who coached 20 seasons) and Kirk (20 seasons as well).

In the 79 seasons prior to Hayden and Kirk, Iowa finished with a conference record above .500 only 16 times (20%), with an overall conference record of only 142-245-20 ( a 37.3 winning percentage; TERRIBLE)

Hayden finished with 11 winning conference records in 20 seasons (55%) and 16 out of 20 at or above .500 (80%)

Kirk has now finished with 10 winning conference records in 20 seasons (50%) and 15 out of 20 at or above .500 (75%).

Hayden's conference record: 96-61-5 (winning percentage of 60.8%)
Kirk's conference record: 91-72-0 (winning percentage of 55.8%)

You can draw your own conclusions, but I can argue that Fry and now Ferentz have performed minor miracles at Iowa. 79 years is a pretty good sample size in projecting what most coaches would have done at Iowa.

All of the close losses this year were particularly frustrating, but I am forcing myself to keep some perspective, based on history.

The bottom line is that Iowa for the 79 years prior to these two coaches was either the worst, or close to the worst, team in the Big Ten.

 

[NCHawker]

good post.

 

[guffus]

I get your point, but It is hard to lump 79 years together in 1 category.

Different coaches at Iowa have shown it is possible to have success at Iowa,

Jones's teams in the 1920's
Iron man team in 1939
Evy's teams in the 1950's

And other examples as well.

I think it shows that if you get the right coach, and then try to keep that coach, Iowa can have success.

 

[CP87]

Iowa just finished their 119th season of Big Ten football, starting in 1900 and ending in 2018.

There were 79 seasons prior to Hayden ( who coached 20 seasons) and Kirk (20 seasons as well).

In the 79 seasons prior to Hayden and Kirk, Iowa finished with a conference record above .500 only 16 times (20%), with an overall conference record of only 142-245-20 ( a 37.3 winning percentage; TERRIBLE)

Hayden finished with 11 winning conference records in 20 seasons (55%) and 16 out of 20 at or above .500 (80%)

Kirk has now finished with 10 winning conference records in 20 seasons (50%) and 15 out of 20 at or above .500 (75%).

Hayden's conference record: 96-61-5 (winning percentage of 60.8%)
Kirk's conference record: 91-72-0 (winning percentage of 55.8%)

You can draw your own conclusions, but I can argue that Fry and now Ferentz have performed minor miracles at Iowa. 79 years is a pretty good sample size in projecting what most coaches would have done at Iowa.

All of the close losses this year were particularly frustrating, but I am forcing myself to keep some perspective, based on history.

The bottom line is that Iowa for the 79 years prior to these two coaches was either the worst, or close to the worst, team in the Big Ten.

I think the Ferentz legacy is summed up in that conference winning %. A good coach who wins more than he loses. He is a good guy who mostly does right by his players (prepares them for life, be it football-related or otherwise). His blemishes (rhabdo, nepotism, contract) are not of the malicious sort. He has shown capable of captaining really special seasons, but they have just not happened frequently enough to elevate Iowa's status the way that Wisconsin has. Too many wins left on the table.

Good, not elite. Glad we have him, I will always cheer for him, but not naive enough to think other coaches could not have come in and achieved the same or more. Also not stupid enough to think any replacement-level coach could have come in and matched his accomplishments.