Kirk Ferentz earns $7 million a year at Iowa on a contract that runs through the 2029 season and expires Jan. 31, 2030. Iowa signed the four year extension in January 2022 after a 10 and 4 season, and Ferentz, the longest tenured coach in the FBS, has led the Hawkeyes since 1999. If he finishes the deal, Iowa will have had two head coaches, Hayden Fry and Ferentz, over 51 seasons.
| Annual pay | $7 million: $500,000 base, $5.5 million supplemental and a $1 million longevity bonus |
| Total value | $56 million over eight seasons |
| If Iowa fires him | 100 percent of the remaining base and supplemental salary through the end of the deal |
| Funding | Iowa said the extension was made possible by substantial private support |
| Age | He would be 74 when the contract ends |
How It Compares
| Coach | School | 2026 pay |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Day (Iowa’s opponent this Saturday) | Ohio State | $12.5 million |
| Luke Fickell | Wisconsin | $7.8 million |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | $7 million |
Contract terms are from Iowa’s announcement as reported by the Associated Press, with buyout terms from Boardroom. The full national list is on our college football coaching salaries page.
The Bottom Line
Kirk Ferentz makes $7 million a year at Iowa through the 2029 season, including a $1 million longevity bonus, and Iowa would owe him every remaining dollar if it let him go. Iowa hosts Ohio State on Saturday, Oct. 3. Follow the Hawkeyes on the Ohio State vs. Iowa page, the Iowa football schedule and Iowa score today.