By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Maryland head football coach Mike Locksley knew that questions about his decision to hire Brian Ferentz would be asked at Big Ten Media Day on Thursday, and Locksley was ready.

“Uh-oh, here we go, they’re going to ask me a million questions about Brian Ferentz,” Locksley said. “Adding Brian to the staff has been great because I’ve always had a lot of respect for Kirk (Ferentz) and for the Iowa program. You talk about a program that people get mad because they won 10 games every year.

“That’s a great problem to have.”

Kirk, of course, is Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who is Brian Ferentz’s father, his former boss and the third all-time winningest coach in Big Ten history.

Brian Ferentz was fired as the Iowa offensive coordinator with four games left in the 2023 regular season. His firing also came during a near two-year stretch in which the Iowa offense performed at a historically low level from a statistical standpoint.

Brian Ferentz was the source of ridicule and criticism that reached perhaps its worst point when fans at Kinnick Stadium chanted “fire Brian” during the Michigan State game last season.

That same chant would resurface in each home game until then Iowa interim Athletic Director Beth Goetz finally pulled the plug by firing Brian Ferentz with four games left in the regular season.

He was allowed to coach through the season, and in the Citrus Bowl.

“I have my heart for coaches’ kids because I have kids and I know the sacrifice,” Locksley said. “Imagine being a head coach and have the people talk about your son. That’s your child. Momma bear doesn’t like it, daddy bear doesn’t like it.

“So, coaches kids go through a lot of stuff, and I’m pretty partial.”

Locksley then explained from a football standpoint his decision to hire Brian Ferentz as a senior offensive assistant, and what Locksley said makes a lot of sense.

“Coaches kids, they understand it and they get it, man,” Locksley said. “Having Brian on my staff, he brings an expertise in running football and offensive line play. They’re the gold standard for what o-linemen and tight ends look like.

“Why wouldn’t I take him and him to my team to bring a skill that we need to get better at, but also bring some championship pedigree to it at a discounted price. Thanks for grandma’s chocolate chip recipe. I live that life, so a tremendous benefit.”

Not exactly sure exactly what Locksley meant with his reference to grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe, but to add somebody with Brian Ferentz’s experience as an offensive assistant would seem to be a wise move.

Brian Ferentz is easily qualified to coach the offensive line or tight ends for any college program in the country, or for any NFL team for that matter. So, for Locksley to hire him as a Senior Offensive Assistant makes perfect sense.

Brian Ferentz is trying to give his career a reboot, while Locksley is trying to give his offense a spark.

They both need each other to get where they want to be.

Kirk Ferentz told reporters at Big ten media day that he is appreciative of the opportunity given to his son, and that Brian Ferentz feels the same way.

“As a dad, the dad side if things, I always want all my kids to be around good people professionally,” Kirk Ferentz said at Big Ten Media Day. “So, I feel good about that, and it’s good opportunity for him.

“Just excited to see where it all goes. Wish everybody the best.”

Father and son will have a reunion of sorts when Iowa faces Maryland in the 11th game of the 2024 season on Nov. 23 in College, Park, Maryland.

By then, we’ll know a lot more about both teams.

But regardless of what has transpired on the field to that point, it’ll be a weird and awkward week of preparation to say the least.

An offensive senior assistant wouldn’t normally draw the spotlight, but this situation is far from normal because it wasn’t that long when Brian Ferentz was thought to be in line to replace his father as the Iowa head coach.

Kirk Ferentz never said it publicly, nor did Brian Ferentz.

It just seemed that Brian Ferentz was being groomed to replace his father as head coach.

But then the Iowa offense performed so horribly under Brian Ferentz for an extended period, and that led to extreme action being taken.

The fact that Brian Ferentz chose to stay in the Big Ten is surprising, but it could be simply due to Locksley making the best offer.

Whatever the case, Brian Ferentz is over-qualified for his current job, but now he just has to show it.

That would benefit fit him, and Locksley.