Kirk James Ferentz (born August 1, 1955) is an American football coach and former player. He is the head football coach at the University of Iowa, a position he has held since 1999, and is a four-time (2002, 2004, 2009, & 2015) Big Ten Coach of the Year, more than any other current coach in the Big Ten. From 1990 to 1992, Ferentz was the head football coach at the University of Maine. He has also served as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Ferentz played college football as a linebacker at the University of Connecticut from 1974 to 1976.