Never would’ve predicted or imagined Brian Ferentz coaching at Maryland
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – If somebody with a crystal ball had told me that Brian Ferentz would land a job with another Big Ten football program, but then asked for me to guess which school, Maryland probably would have been last on my list, or near the bottom.
Why?
I’ll just cut to the chase: I didn’t think that one of the Big Ten’s five black head football coaches would give Brian Ferentz an opportunity because of what had transpired at Iowa, both on and off the field.
In March 2023, a $4.175 settlement was reached between the University of Iowa and a group of Black former Iowa players who accused Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who is Brian’s father, of overseeing a racially discriminatory culture.
Brian Ferentz also faced accusations of racial discrimination.
Kirk Ferentz called the settlement “greatly disappointing,” and he said the discussions leading up to the settlement took place entirely without his knowledge and consent.
That was just 15 months ago.

And then on the field, Brian Ferentz had the misfortune of overseeing arguably the worst offense in the country in each of the past two seasons. He and the Iowa offense became a national laughingstock and a punchline.
Brian Ferentz was fired with four games left in the 2023 season, but he was also allowed to coach for the rest of the 2023 season as Iowa would go on to win the Big Ten West Division and finish 10-4 overall despite the offense.
So, there was baggage on and off the field, and I mistakenly assumed that it would keep Brian Ferentz from landing a job with another Power 4 program, but especially Maryland under the circumstances.
I’m embarrassed to say that I was wrong to believe that race might play a factor in Brian Ferentz landing a new job.
Maryland head coach Mike Locksley certainly didn’t have to hire Brian Ferentz because every major college football program has people lining up for these kinds of jobs for coaches that are just starting to climb the coaching ladder, or for those looking to bounce back, as is the case with Brian Ferentz.
Locksley hired Brain Ferentz because Brian Ferentz is more than qualified for his new role as Senior Offensive Assistant, and because Locksley apparently is willing to look past the racial stuff at Iowa, and because Brian Ferentz apparently passed the vetting process.
It seems the only person that wasn’t looking forward and keeping an open mind in this case was me, and for that I am a shame.
Brian Ferentz could’ve taken some time off from coaching, maybe a season or two to regroup.
But he apparently wants to stay involved with the game that he loves, even if means working for a Big Ten opponent that Iowa will face on Nov. 23 in College Park, Maryland.
To say that’ll be a weird and awkward week is an understatement.
Brian Ferentz is trying to resurrect his coaching career, while Mike Locksley is trying to assemble the best supporting cast to help his cause.
Locksley could do a lot worse than having somebody with Brian Ferentz’s experience as a special assistant.
Brian Ferentz paid the ultimate price for Iowa’s offensive woes, but he was just part of the problem.
Brian Ferentz performed well as a position coach for his father and he would likely do the same for Maryland should that opportunity some day present itself.

Brian Ferentz isn’t a bad football coach.
He was just put in a bad situation, and then it only got worse.
He wasn’t ready to be the Iowa offensive coordinator when he was promoted in 2017. He had never coached quarterbacks before and that eventually caught up with him.
Brian Ferentz will have to walk before he can run again as a coach, and his path to redemption starts at Maryland of all schools.
The fact that Brian Ferentz chose to stay in the Big Ten is interesting to say the least.
I figured that Brian Ferentz would’ve stayed clear of the Big Ten for obvious reasons, but again, I was wrong.
Perhaps Maryland was his best offer, and he just couldn’t turn it down.
Brian Ferentz reportedly had one interview for a position with Nebraska, but there wasn’t a follow-up interview.
Not much has been written or said about Brian Ferentz since he was hired by Locksley in late April.
And that’s probably how Brian Ferentz would prefer it.
It isn’t often that a special assistant gets much attention, but on the other hand, Brian Ferentz isn’t your typical special assistant.
He was thought be in line to replace his father as the next Iowa head coach until the offense sunk to unprecedented lows from a statistical standpoint.
Locksley will almost certainly be asked about his decision to hire Brian Ferentz at Big Ten media days in late July because that is what the annual event is for, and because it’s a fair and interesting topic.
It would’ve been easy for Locksley to hold a grudge against Brian Ferentz because of all the racial stuff.
But the easy choice is not always the right or fair choice.
Mike Locksley is paid to win football games, and he apparently believes that Brian Ferentz can be beneficial to that cause, and Locksley also believes in Brian Ferentz the person, or he wouldn’t have hired him.
Brian Ferentz and Mike Locksley both deserve praise for keeping an open mind, while I deserve criticism for having a closed mind.