Ferentz B1G Coach of Year, Walsh 1st-Team All-Conference
Four days after his team completed an unexpected 12-0 regular season, Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz was named the Hayes-Schembechler Big Ten Coach of the Year Tuesday. It was the fourth time (2002, ’04, ’09) in his 17 years piloting the Hawkeyes that he’s won the award.
"They’ve all been very special and I’m just real humbled and honored to be the recipient," Ferentz told BTN shortly after it aired the announcement. "It’s kind of like an MVP trophy. It really is a team award. I’m very fortunate. I work in a great place with a lot of great people. It’s been a lot of fun this year."
Our @DaveRevsine talks with @B1Gfootball Coach of the Year, @HawkeyeFootball's Kirk Ferentz. https://t.co/cfkwyA045d
— BTN Live (@BTNLive) December 1, 2015
The fourth-ranked Hawkeyes face No. 5 Michigan State Saturday night in the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis. The winner is expected to advance to the four-team College Football Playoff.
Iowa will boast a first-team all-Conference lineman on its offense this weekend after senior right guard Jordan Walsh was given that honor from the league coaches. He’s the team’s only first-teamer on that side of the ball following the release of those units Tuesday night. When the defense was announced Monday, cornerback Desmond King was the only Hawkeye on there.
Iowa Quarterback C.J. Beathard was named to the second-team by the coaches and media with Michigan State’s Connor Cook on the top unit in both votes. Walsh and center Austin Blythe joined their signal caller on the media’s second team with Blythe also showing up on the coaches second team.
Hawkeye senior Jordan Canzeri was named to the third-team by the coaches and media. Receiver Matt Vandeberg and Sean Welsh, the left guard, were Iowa honorable mentions.
Here’s a look at all the Big Ten honorees.