Above you'll see your Hawkeye coaching staff for the 2012 season. Oh, Kirk is the one with the hairy chest in case you were wondering.
Kirk Ferentz - Head coach.
Greg Davis - Offensive coordinator.
David Raih - QB coach.
Erik Campbell - WR's coach.
Lester Erb - Runningbacks and Special Teams coach.
Eric Johnson - Recruiting coordinator and Tight Ends coach.
Brian Ferentz - Offensive line coach.
Phil Parker - Defensive Coordinator.
Reese Morgan - Defensive Line coach.
LeVar Woods - Linebackers coach.
Darrell Wilson - Defensive backs and Special Teams coach.
Greg Davis - Offensive coordinator.
David Raih - QB coach.
Erik Campbell - WR's coach.
Lester Erb - Runningbacks and Special Teams coach.
Eric Johnson - Recruiting coordinator and Tight Ends coach.
Brian Ferentz - Offensive line coach.
Phil Parker - Defensive Coordinator.
Reese Morgan - Defensive Line coach.
LeVar Woods - Linebackers coach.
Darrell Wilson - Defensive backs and Special Teams coach.
Let me add that David Raih may become an administrative assistant before he becomes an assistant coach and "Soup" may take on the added duties of QB coach if Greg Davis doesn't assume that role. If that happens look for David to be promoted in a couple years as Kirk would like to get Raih more involved with his program.
So how do I feel about all these changes? After a dismal 2010 and 2011 campaign I am glad to see a shake-up in the coaching staff. Rick was invited to leave and Norm was invited to retire. Ken also wasn't getting the happy vibe from Kirk that he was used to.
In true Kirk Ferentz fashion he shook-up the staff without doing much actual shaking, you might say (despite what my header tells you) he stirred the glass. The only true outsider brought in was G.D. Davis has an impressive resume and is a good hire. If nothing else he has more connections to Texas than any of the current coaches and he is used to high expectations, not that he'll suffer that while at Iowa. More importantly to Kirk Ferentz he is about 5 years from retirement which works perfectly in the Ferentz family scheme to make Brian the offensive coordinator before his dad retires. And why is that important? I see Kirk retiring at the top of his game. And I see that happening in about 10 years. A time frame that allows Brian to establish himself as a successful O.C. So if Kirk hangs it up after he wins another BCS Bowl his recommendation will carry a lot of weight with the AD and the big-time boosters. To put it in simple terms, KF is laying the groundwork to hand the head-coaching duties off to his son. I wouldn't be surprised if James is also on staff in some capacity when K.F. retires. So in essence Kirk is turning the University of Iowa football program into a family business. Actually, I shouldn't phrase that as if he is GOING to do it, he already has!
