By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – There seems to be a narrative in which the longer Kirk Ferentz takes to hire a new offensive coordinator, the more likely his choice will be underwhelming to fans.

Ferentz has said very little publicly about the search to replace his son as offensive coordinator, and there really hasn’t been much chatter with any substance or credibility on social media or message boards.

Joe Philbin and Paul Chryst have been by far the two most talked about, and most written about, as possible candidates.

Kirk Ferentz spoke very highly of both when asked about them in late December.

He also indicated that the search could stretch to February when discussing the process, and the field of candidates.

Kirk Ferentz is keeping his search under tight wraps, leading to wild speculation such as the rumor that Scott Frost was being considered.

But to assume that Kirk Ferentz is destined to under perform with this hire just because it’s taking longer than some apparently had expected, seems a little short-sighted and misguided.

Kirk Ferentz is thorough and meticulous if he’s anything.

This is probably the most difficult hire he’s ever made because he’s having to replace his son who was fired in season by Iowa Interim Athletic Director Beth Goetz.

This is personal for Kirk Ferentz.

The job was basically handed to Brian Ferentz when he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2017, and shortly after previous offensive coordinator Greg Davis had retired.

Brian Ferentz lasted for seven seasons, but even he and his father couldn’t save his job in the wake of back-to-back disastrous seasons for the Iowa offense.

Iowa still has a lot to offer, however, and who knows how high the ceiling could be if the offense were just average?

The next offensive coordinator won’t have a high bar to surpass. Just make the offense average and Hawkeye fans would be all in.

Those hoping that Kirk Ferentz would make a home run hire, whatever that is in this case, certainly have the right to think big and to believe that anything is possible, like maybe Iowa native Ryan Grubb coming to save the offense, though, that silly talk can now end with Grubb expected to join Kalen DeBoer at Alabama.

But on the other, those assuming that any coach with credibility wouldn’t want anything to do with the Iowa offense aren’t giving Kirk Ferentz, or the Iowa program enough respect.

According to the always changing rumor mill, Chryst has gone from being a leading candidate to not being a candidate to reemerging as a candidate to not being a candidate to being someone that still has to be considered.

Philbin and Chryst continue to be the two most obvious choices, especially since so few other names have emerged.

But are they too obvious?

Time will tell.

I still give Philbin the slightest edge over Chryst in landing the job.

But would I be surprised if a third or fourth candidate were also being considered?

Absolutely not.

Maybe that’s why the search is taking this long.

It’s reasonable to think that if it were either Philbin or Chryst that ultimately gets the job that it would’ve happened by now with the transfer portal always a concern.

Kirk Ferentz also will have to hire a new receiver coach since Kelton Copeland will not be retained after seven seasons.

The two openings on offense have led to speculation that Kirk Ferentz is on the verge of overhauling his offense.

But I’ll believe that when I see it.

It seems much more likely that Kirk Ferentz is determined to show on behalf of his son that injuries kept the offense from reaching anywhere close to its potential this season.

And the only way to do that is to run the same offense next season and then hope for better results.

Perhaps the most interesting rumor I’ve heard during the search is that Kirk Ferentz was contacted by someone who is pretty well known about the job, and that Kirk never would have imagined this person having interest.

The problem is my source didn’t have a name.

But again, just because this search has lasted for what some feel is too long, that doesn’t mean Kirk Ferentz is about to under deliver.

A lot depends on your expectations for this hire.

If you were expecting Ryan Grubb or Nate Scheelhaase or some other rising star, you will probably be disappointed.

There is an unsubstantiated report, or maybe it’s just a rumor, that Kirk Ferentz reached out to Grubb about the job, but that Grubb, who is from Iowa, wasn’t interested.

That just seems hard to believe.

But if it were true, Kirk Ferentz deserves praise for at least trying to hit a home run.

Philbin and Chryst are both more than qualified for the job, and they’re both probably over-qualified.

But with Chryst currently working as an offensive analyst for Texas, and with Philbin an advisor for Ohio State, the Iowa offensive coordinator job would be a step up in both cases.