Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, assistant suspended one sport

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr were suspended for one game for violations tied to the recruitment and transfer of a player, the university confirmed Thursday.

The university did not name the player, but multiple outlets identified quarterback Cade McNamara, a Michigan transfer, as the subject of the NCAA inquiry that Ferentz said was his “first potential Level II violation.”

The Hawkeyes open the 2024 season at home against Illinois State on Aug. 31. The suspension takes effect at 12:01 a.m. that day and lasts for 24 hours. Ferentz and Budmayr will be allowed to participate in all team activities before and after that window.

Assistant head coach Seth Wallace will serve as the interim coach in the opener.

Ferentz has been Iowa’s head coach since 1999 and is the longest-tenured coach in the FBS.

“I tell our players we abide by the rules, and in this specific case I did not do that,” Ferentz, 69, told reporters Thursday. “I made a mistake during the recruiting process. I want to apologize to our players, coaching staff, university leadership and our incredible fans.

“Twenty-six years as a head coach, this is first potential Level II violation that I’ve had. That won’t happen again.”

Ferentz has a 196-119 record at Iowa, a record number of wins for an Iowa coach. He ranks third al time in the Big Ten for conference wins (122).

The self-imposed punishment came after discussion with the NCAA and also includes the loss of one week of off-campus recruiting.

“Coach Ferentz and I made the decision to self-impose the penalties, allowing the program to move forward without distraction,” athletic director Beth Goetz said. “I appreciate the accountability demonstrated and we will continue to fully cooperate with the NCAA through this process. I have confidence in Coach Ferentz and his leadership, and we look forward to turning our focus to the opening game and exciting season that lies ahead.”

Ferentz said the player, unnamed by Iowa, is not subject to any penalties and remains eligible.

McNamara transferred from Michigan to Iowa in December 2022, and the university statement Thursday said the recruiting violation occurred in late 2022 with communication between a player and his family before he entered the transfer portal.

Michigan’s starting quarterback in 2021, McNamara was named offensive captain to begin the 2022 season with the Wolverines.

He was named the Wolverines’ starting quarterback, but a season-ending knee injury Sept. 17 cleared the path for J.J. McCarthy to guide Michigan back to the College Football Playoff.

McNamara led Michigan to its first College Football Playoff appearance in 2021, bringing a Big Ten title to Ann Arbor for the first time since 2004. Michigan was 12-2.

Budmayr is a former Big Ten quarterback — at Wisconsin — before he served on the Badgers’ coaching staff. He was an offensive analyst for the Hawkeyes in 2022 and special assistant to Ferentz in 2023.

–Field Level Media