By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – If you know anything about how Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga was raised, his pursuit of a criminology, law and justice degree should come as no surprise.

You could say it’s his destiny as the proud son of a police officer.

Athletics has certainly been a nice and rewarding focus for Ostrenga, and for his family.

But once his football career is over whenever that might be, Ostrenga wants to follow in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in law enforcement.

He isn’t sure exactly what he wants to do. He just knows that he wants to be like his father, who for over a quarter century has been a police officer, now serving as the Lieutenant/SWAT Commander for the Madison, Wisconsin Police Department.

Ostrenga has watched his father, Jason Ostrenga, work long days and nights, knowing that the threat of danger and violence is always looming.

He has watched is father serve and protect the community, but not always with the support from that same community.

“There’s been so much that has happened in these past couple years, especially in Madison that he’s had to deal with and just watching him be able to still go to work every day with a good attitude; I’ve met his co-workers, they talk about how great of a leader he is and I just respect that a ton because I know it’s not easy,” Addison Ostrenga said this past Tuesday. “There’s a lot of people that say really negative things to him. I hate to see that, but he’s still going to work every day and working his butt off for us, and I just respect that a ton.”

Addison Ostrenga’s main focus, right now, of course, is Saturday’s game against his home-state school, the Wisconsin Badgers, at Kinnick Stadium.

Both teams are 5-2 overall, but the Badgers are 3-1 in conference play, while Iowa is 2-2.

The game could have serious post-season ramifications for both teams, and as one of Iowa’s four team captains, Addison Ostrenga will help to set the tone with his leadership.

He learned about leadership from watching his father not only perform his duties as a police officer, but also as one of Addison Ostrenga’s coaches in multiple youth sports.

“Honestly, he’s worked so hard,” Addison Ostrenga said of his father. “As a kid, my mom would be home with us and he’s out working all night. And then as we got older, he kind of grew up in his job and became a leader for their team.

“And so, I think that’s the biggest thing, just watching him grow as a leader, as a police officer and also how he’s handled (everything).”

Since starting as a police officer in 1999, Jason Ostrenga has seen the world around him change dramatically, sometimes for the worst.

What hasn’t changed, though, is his commitment to his job, and to his family.

Jason Ostrenga has always been there for his community and for his three sons. That unwavering commitment has made a strong strong impression on Addison, who is the oldest of Ostrenga’s three sons.

“I’m definitely proud that, hopefully, I set a good example for him and work ethic,” Jason Ostrenga said Thursday in a phone interview. “Police work has definitely changed in my 28 years. There’s a lot of things politically and things going on around the world. Madison is a very liberal city.”

Jason Ostrenga had just finished making some calls related to a homicide in Madison on Wednesday night when he took about 15 minutes from his busy schedule to talk with Hawk Fanatic about his career in law enforcement and about his influence on Addison, whom Jason believes has what it takes to excel in law enforcement.

“Honestly, police work is about communication,” Jason Ostrenga said. “It’s not about shooting or fighting. The best quality is someone that can be calm under pressure and communicate. Your day is you go from a 90-year old women’s husband died to a gun shot victim.

“So I think he has those qualities for whatever role he goes. So that does make me proud.”

Addison Ostrenga, who is in his fifth year at Iowa, still is considering his options in law enforcement.

He wants to play football for as long as possible, but once that chapter ends, Addison wants to be just like his father, a trusted and respected member of law enforcement.

“I grew up watching him do that and I was inspired to come here and pursue a criminology major,” Addison Ostrenga said. “Obviously, I think the law enforcement field is great. Being a cop would be great.

“But the FBI seems really interesting to me as well. So I’ve been able to talk to a few people that have been in that field. I think it’s something that I might pursue, but will kind of see where it goes after this season.

“I’ve been always interested in the outdoors, so anything in law enforcement, maybe like DNR (Department of Natural Resources)  or just local cops and stull like that. I think anything like that; detective, on-the-street cop, anything like that I think is something I’d be interested in.”

To gain some first-hand experience, Addison Ostrenga already has participated in what Jason calls “ride-alongs” with police officers and detectives in Madison.

“He’s been out a few times when he’s been able to come home over Christmas or for the summer,” Jason Ostrenga said of Addison. “So I definitely could see him going into some realm of law enforcement, whether it’s FBI, ETI or DEA, or maybe a normal police officer.”

Police work has been under a microscope since the global pandemic, and with so much political divisiveness in today’s society.

Jason Ostrenga has tried to stay positive by reminding himself, and his friends, most of whom aren’t in law enforcement, that the good people far outweigh the bad people, and that most people like and respect police officers.

However, sadly, it’s the people on the fringe who promote violence and civil disobedience that often become the focus and the main storyline.

“I try to remind people that 95 percent of the world actually like police,” Jason Ostrenga said. “But they don’t necessarily speak up because the five percent, they might be the louder voice, but they’re not the majority of people.”

As a police officer, Jason Ostrenga deals with the racial unrest that continues to plague our society. He interacts on a daily basis with people from all different sorts of cultures and backgrounds, and does so with first-hand experience because of his family’s background.

“I try not to get too emotional with people,” Jason Ostrenga said. “A lot of times nowadays you go on a call, the first thing is your race history, this or that. And I’m just like, ‘hey, I get it, over a history of time there has been issues and there’s been mistakes. But right now I’m meeting you for the first time so we can make this how you want this.

“I’m actually Mexican, too, so I can always be like, ‘listen, I get it. My grandparents didn’t speak English. My mom didn’t come here until she was 14. And so I’ve seen things. It’s definitely frustrating and it gets hard. But I do believe 95 percent of the people still believe in police. It’s just that voice doesn’t get heard.”

That voice certainly gets heard when speaking with Addison Ostrenga, who beams with pride when talking about his father, and also about his mother, who works as a nurse.

From a leadership standpoint, Addison sees some similarities between his father and Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.

“I would say as a leader being able to come to work consistently, I would say that’s the biggest thing,” Addison Ostrenga said. “Coach Ferentz is here every single day just working his butt off; one of the first guys in the building and last guy out. And still working out every day.

“And then my dad through all these years experiencing so much in the police field I know is real hard mentally. And so for him to just be consistent with that and just work his butt off for our family, it’s been great to see.”

And though he’s proud that Addison wants to pursue a career in law enforcement, Jason Ostrenga also has mixed emotions due to the risks.

“It’s definitely scary,” Jason Ostrenga said. “Unfortunately, that is part of the job. There is some danger to it. I think what helps is communication skills. But on the other side of it is just if he doesn’t do it, or if my co-workers don’t do it, or whether it’s the military or police work, who should?

“But yeah, it’s always going to be a concern because you can have the best officer safety, good communication skills, have backup, and unfortunately, there’s that two percent of the world that with alcohol, drugs, etcetera; and if they’re desperate because they did something, they will do anything at all cost.”

Sports, meanwhile, has been another way for Jason Ostrenga to bond with his three sons.

Addison’s younger brother, Sam plays safety for North Dakota, while the youngest of the three brothers, Jack, is a junior in high school who plays both football and baseball.

“We’ve got a lot of bonding,” Jason Ostrenga said of coaching his three sons. “I try to do it the right way; sportsmanship. Am I the best coach? No. But I think I get the big picture.”

Addison Ostrenga is from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, which is basically a suburb of Madison. He and his family are thrilled that the Milwaukee Brewers won the Worlds Series on Wednesday and they also love the Green Bay Packers.

But when it came for Addison to pursue a path for college, his focus shifted to the state of Iowa, and more specifically, to the University of Iowa. He was originally committed to the Iowa baseball team in high school before switching his commitment to football after being offered a scholarship.

Addison credits his father for helping him reaching his potential, and for always setting the right example.

“He was my coach for pretty much all my sports growing up,” Addison said of his father. “But then also he’s still working out every day. He plays racquetball. My youngest brother is in high school. I’ve got a brother who plays football at North Dakota, and obviously, I play here. So he’s traveling everywhere and trying to support us as much as he can while he’s still working.”

Jason and his wife, Jenny, try to attend all of their kids’ sporting events, though it isn’t easy with two of their sons playing college football at the same time.

The only Iowa game Jason has missed this season was the 20-19 victory at Michigan on Sept. 26, but that was because Jason and his father were in Terre Haute, Indiana that day watching Sam play against Indiana State, while his wife and youngest son were in Ann Arbor, Michigan watching Addison play.

Addison Ostrenga made one of the key plays on Iowa’s game-winning drive against Michigan when he caught a caught a deflected pass for a first down.

Following the Indiana State game, Jason Ostrenga and his father went to a local sports pub in Terre Haute to watch the rest of the Iowa game on television.

“Next thing you know my dad’s wearing an Iowa sweatshirt and I’m cheering,” Jason Ostrenga said. “Everyone was like why are you cheering? And I go, well, my dad, Addison’s grandfather, was like that’s my grandson.

“And the next thing you know, we’ve got all these people in Indiana at this sports bar rooting for Iowa. It was kind of surreal.”

Jason Ostrenga calls Addison’s catch against Michigan the catch before the catch as it helped to set up Reece Vander Zee’s game-winning catch as time expired.

“A lot of hard work, especially after last year with the major injury,” Jason Ostrenga said of the season-ending Achilles injury that Addison suffered against Iowa State in the second game of the 2025 season.

Jason Ostrenga was at Jack Truce Stadium in Ames on the day his son was injured.

“That was probably one of the worst moments,” Jason Ostrenga said. “I know in the big scheme of life, it’s not death and I’m not trying to make it seem that way.

“But being in an away stadium and you see your kid (get injured); it was gut-wrenching, that’s for sure.”

Jason Ostrenga will be in the comfort of Kinnick Stadium on Saturday as part of a 56-person bus travel part from Madison. Jason estimates that at least 40 of the people riding on the bus are now devoted Hawkeye fans.

The respect that Addison Ostrenga feels for his father is similar to what Jason Ostrenga feels for his son.

Playing football for Iowa is a serious and time-consuming responsibility that is filled with emotional peaks and valleys.

Addison Ostrenga, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, has been a key contributor throughout his Hawkeye career when healthy.

He also has excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-Big Ten and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recognition while also consistently making the Dean’s List.

Addison Ostrenga is also one of eight seniors named to Iowa’s 2026 Player Council.

“It builds you for life,” Jason Ostrenga said of being a Hawkeye football player. “Not to sound cliche’ish, but life isn’t easy. And sports isn’t easy.

“Playing college football and getting up at 5 a.m. for 12 games a year, it’s a lot of work.”

“I’ve been always interested in the outdoors, so anything in law enforcement, maybe like DNR (Department of Natural Resources)  or just local cops and stull like that; I think anything like that; detective, on-the-street cop, anything like that I think is something I’d be interested in.”