VOTE: Is Kirk a Hall of Famer (assuming he maintains at least a .5950 win percentage)? He's currently at .6016 (has to go at least 6-7 next season)

[Franisdaman]

Updated after the win vs Vanderbilt:

To be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, a head coach must have a winning percentage of at least .5950. This threshold was recently lowered from .6000 to accommodate coaches like Mike Leach, who had a career winning percentage of .5960. The National Football Foundation (NFF) made the change to the eligibility criteria for the 2027 ballot. Coaches must also have at least 10 years of head coaching experience and have coached at least 100 games.

Kirk Ferentz has been the head coach at 2 schools (for 374 games) and currently has a .6016 career head coach winning percentage. Kirk has to go at least 6-7 next season to keep above the new minimum career winning percentage threshold of .5950 (a 6-7 record next season would put him at 387 total games as a head coach and a record of 231-156 and .5968).

Kirk's current career record:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine..................(1990-1992)
213-128 (.625)........27th season at IOWA..............(1999-2025)
______________________________________________________
225-149 (.6016).........Career Record
=================================

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

 

[gojojo]

I don’t think there is any question he will be.

 

[zen hawk]

Kirk will be in the hall of fame. His longevity and consistency alone merit some recognition. His understanding of the game is deep and his ability to force opponents to play games on his terms speaks volumes of his approach to the game. He's also a great developer, one of the best.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

If they have to, they'll lower it again. He certainly deserves to be in the HOF.

 

[somewhereiniowa]

Already holds the record for most loses by a B10 coach, so most wins will be a matched pair. Overall he has been a very good successful coach, he is the Don Sutton of coaches doing it today, never the best out there, and his amount of wins has been greatly influenced because of his longevity and playing 9 seasons in the worst division in college football in awhile. Should he get in, No, but he will get in down the road.

 

[Burghawk87]

Already holds the record for most loses by a B10 coach, so most wins will be a matched pair. Overall he has been a very good successful coach, he is the Don Sutton of coaches doing it today, never the best out there, and his amount of wins has been greatly influenced because of his longevity and playing 9 seasons in the worst division in college football in awhile. Should he get in, No, but he will get in down the road.

What if he has an outstanding loan? Better check with the board of regents first to see what they think considering he has never coached at Eastern Illinois.

 

[F6n6]

To be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, a head coach must have a winning percentage of at least .595. This threshold was recently lowered from .600 to accommodate coaches like Mike Leach, who had a career winning percentage of .596. The National Football Foundation (NFF) made the change to the eligibility criteria for the 2027 ballot. Coaches must also have at least 10 years of head coaching experience and have coached at least 100 games.

Kirk Ferentz has been the head coach at 2 schools (for 361 games) and currently has a .598 career head coach winning percentage. Kirk has to go at least 7-6 this season to keep above the new minimum career winning percentage threshold of .595 (a 7-6 record this season would put him at 374 total games as a head coach and a record of 223-151 and .596).

Kirk's current career record:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine.......(1990-1992)
204-124 (.622)........26 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2024)
______________________________________________________
216-145 (.598).........Career Record
=================================

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

if Iowa goes 7-6 this season... that will be 223-151 Career Record
that's a .596 win percentage.

if Iowa goes 9-4 this season... that will be 225-149 Career Record
that's a .602 win percentage.

8-5 = .599

16-0 = .615

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Already holds the record for most loses by a B10 coach, so most wins will be a matched pair. Overall he has been a very good successful coach, he is the Don Sutton of coaches doing it today, never the best out there, and his amount of wins has been greatly influenced because of his longevity and playing 9 seasons in the worst division in college football in awhile. Should he get in, No, but he will get in down the road.

Once again, the little 12 north was worse then the B1G west, and NO one cares if you disagree....

 

[somewhereiniowa]

Once again, the little 12 north was worse then the B1G west, and NO one cares if you disagree....

Not even close comparing the two, and if NO one cares, why are you responding to my post. Seems like you care.

 

[nu2u]

If you don’t meet the eligibility standards you are ineligible. It’s as simple as that.

You either cross the goal line or you don’t. You are not awarded a score because you were really close. That said, I hope KF crosses the goal line.

 

[RuggieC]

I think for what he has done on the field and what he has done OFF the field with the Children's Hospital, etc., it would be good for the NCAA to put him in. God knows the NCAA needs help with their "brand", but given how the NCAA has treated Iowa in the past, nothing is a given.

 

[Kceasthawk@77]

Not even close comparing the two, and if NO one cares, why are you responding to my post. Seems like you care.

"not even close"? Good Lord please leave. Its one thing to be a homer, but too be both stupid and ignorant is an entirely other level. You mean like back in the little 12 north years where we crushed your asses like 20 some years in a row. Lololol.. Take Nebraska out of the little north and you have what? What was a crap Clone team back then, A crap KU team for ALL but a year or two under the abuser Mangino. A crap Mizzou team most of those years. KSU was decent ONLY after Iowa guy Bill Snyder went to Manhattan. The Buffs had a few years and alot of crap. The big12 north was widely recognized by football people as the worst division in the major conferences, and your delusions won't change that.

 

[BunchofAholes]

Surprised that 1/5 don't think he's worthy of the HOF

 

[rchawk]

Surprised that 1/5 don't think he's worthy of the HOF

I suspect some of the No voters are lying about being Iowa fans.

 

[Franisdaman]

I suspect some of the No voters are lying about being Iowa fans.

And how many times has our Husker troll voted?

 

[rchawk]

And how many times has our Husker troll voted?

It is after school hours...

 

[Franisdaman]

After yesterday's season opening win vs Albany:

Kirk's current career record:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine.......(1990-1992)
205-124 (.623)........27th season IOWA..............(1999-2025)
______________________________________________________
217-145 (.599).........Career Record
=================================

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

 

[eyesofhawk]

 

[Franisdaman]

Check this out & watch:

 

[Franisdaman]

whether fans want to admit it or not, Kirk will be in the Hall of Fame

 

[EbbyCalvin]

I hope he’s enshrined. I wonder if he’ll be able to meet the 60% requirement this season though?

 

[Franisdaman]

I hope he’s enshrined. I wonder if he’ll be able to meet the 60% requirement this season though?

as long as he goes 7-6 this season he remains above the new .595 win percentage requirement

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Heading into today's game vs UMass:

Iowa has won 97 games during the College Football Playoff era --the 11th-most nationally during that span and 5th-most in the Big Ten.

IOWA is 1 of 5 teams in the country to have won at least 8 games in each of the last 9 years.

 

[10001110101]

I don't really care if KF makes the hall of fame or not.

Wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't care either.

 

[Franisdaman]

Updated after the win vs UMass:

Kirk has to go at least 7-6 this season to keep above the new minimum career winning percentage threshold of .595 (a 7-6 record this season would put him at 374 total games as a head coach and a record of 223-151 and .596).

Kirk's current career record:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine.......(1990-1992)
206-125 (.622)........27th season IOWA..............(1999-2025)
______________________________________________________
218-146 (.599).........Career Record
=================================

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Updated after the win vs Wisconsin:



Kirk's current career record:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine..................(1990-1992)
208-126 (.623)........27th season at IOWA..............(1999-2025)
______________________________________________________
220-147 (.599).........Career Record
=================================

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

 

[Franisdaman]

Who are the winningest college football coaches of all time?​

Oct 12, 2025

Few coaches can have a greater impact on their team than those in college football, where the duties of a head coach read more like that of a CEO: recruiting and developing personnel, constructing weekly and yearlong game plans, working with key stakeholders inside and outside the university and generally serving as the face of the program. It's a demanding job, which makes each win all the more impressive. It's also why many of the winningest coaches across college football history have literal statues built in their honor -- including many coaches on this list.

In September 2025, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz became the winningest head coach in Big Ten history. Here's an inside look at the 25 best college football coaches of all time ranked by wins.

*Active coaches are denoted with an asterisk.

1. Joe Paterno, 409 wins

In his 46 years at Happy Valley, the longtime Penn State boss finished his career with a 409-136-3 record (.749). He led the Nittany Lions to a record 37 bowl appearances and 24 wins -- including two national championships (1982, 1986) and five undefeated seasons.

2. Bobby Bowden, 346 wins

Bowden spent the first six years of his FBS coaching career at West Virginia (42-26), but he's best known for his 34 years at Florida State, where he led the Seminoles to a 304-97-4 record (.756) with two national championships (1993, 1999) and 12 ACC titles. They also finished in the top five of the AP poll in a record 14 straight seasons.

3. Bear Bryant, 323 wins

Long considered the greatest college football coach of all time, Paul "Bear" Bryant was the winningest coach in the sport's history when he retired in 1982, and his six national championships at Alabama were the most all time until Nick Saban won his seventh in 2020. Bryant's all-time win percentage (.780) still ranks in the top 20.

4. Pop Warner, 318 wins

Few coaches have had a greater impact on football than Warner, who helped advance the fundamentals of the sport in the early 20th century and was key to the development of the youth program named after him. He also did plenty of winning: Warner claimed four national titles at Pittsburgh and Stanford, and his teams won at least 60% of their games in 35 of his 44 seasons.

5. Amos Alonzo Stagg, 314 wins

In 41 years at Chicago, Stagg led his team to four undefeated seasons and two national championships (1905, 1913; the NCAA site lists Harvard as the champions, but the school claims the championship). His entire coaching career lasted 71 years -- the longest in college football history -- and he's one of only four people elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and coach. He was also elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.

6. Nick Saban, 292 wins

While Saban may not be first on this list, he's considered by many as the greatest college football coach of all time. In 28 seasons, Saban won a record seven national championships -- six at Alabama and one at LSU.

7. Mack Brown, 288 wins

Brown was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018 before returning to North Carolina, where he ranks as the school's all-time leader in wins (113). He also ranks second in all-time wins at Texas (158), where he led the Longhorns to their fourth national title in 2005. In November 2024, UNC announced that Brown would not return as head coach in 2025.

8. LaVell Edwards, 257 wins

Edwards spent his entire 29-year career at BYU, where he led the team to a 257-101-3 record (.716) and coached the Cougars to their only national championship in 1984. He also coached the school's lone Heisman Trophy winner (Ty Detmer) in 1990, and he remains the only 100-win coach in BYU history.

9. Tom Osborne, 255 wins

While other coaches on this list have won more games, none have been more efficient than Osborne, whose .836 win percentage is the sixth best in college football history and by far the best of any FBS coach with at least 200 wins. The Hall of Fame coach led Nebraska to three national titles in 25 years and posted a 60-3 record over his final five seasons.

10. Lou Holtz, 249 wins

Holtz is best known for his 11 seasons at Notre Dame, where he led the Fighting Irish to a stellar 100-30-2 record (.765) and a perfect 12-0 record in 1988 to earn consensus national championship honors. Yet that was just one stop across 33 seasons for Holtz, who remains the only coach to lead six different teams to bowl games.

11. Frank Beamer, 238 wins

Beamer spent his entire FBS coaching career at Virginia Tech, where his brand of "Beamer Ball" -- which emphasized contributions in all three phases -- helped turn the program around after his arrival in 1987. Beamer led the Hokies to seven conference titles and their lone national championship appearance in 1999, one of 25 winning seasons in his 29-year tenure.

12. Bo Schembechler, 234 wins

It's hard to find a more beloved coach than Schembechler, who remains the winningest coach of college football's all-time winningest program. In 21 seasons at Michigan, the legendary coach led the Wolverines to 13 Big Ten titles and finished ranked in the AP Poll in all but one season. He also won 11 games against Ohio State, the second most by any Michigan coach.

 

[Franisdaman]

13. Hayden Fry, 232 wins

Fry may not have the name recognition of some of the other coaches on this list, but the Hall of Fame coach made his impact felt across 37 seasons at SMU, North Texas and Iowa. Fry helped integrate the Southwest Conference in 1965 and turned around the Iowa football program in 1979. His coaching tree was one of the most prolific of all time.

14. Steve Spurrier, 228 wins

One of four people elected to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player and coach, Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy in 1966 and posted a winning record in 23 of 26 seasons at Duke, Florida and South Carolina. "The Head Ball Coach" led the Gators to a national championship in 1996 and was a nine-time conference coach of the year -- seven times in the SEC and twice in the ACC.

15. Woody Hayes, 219 wins

While Hayes' coaching career was marred by his infamous punch in the 1978 Gator Bowl, it's hard to dispute his accolades on the field. In 28 seasons at Ohio State, Hayes won three major poll national champions and 13 Big Ten titles with four undefeated seasons, and his Buckeyes finished ranked in the top 10 a whopping 15 times.

16. Bill Snyder, 215 wins

Nobody is more synonymous with Kansas State football than Snyder, who turned around arguably the worst team in college football history in his 27 seasons in Manhattan. After 13 seasons as an assistant under Hayden Fry, Snyder inherited a Wildcats team riding a 27-game winless streak and led them to a 215-117-1 record (.647), including two Big 12 titles and their first nine bowl wins in program history.

17. Kirk Ferentz*, 208 wins

While Hayden Fry helped establish a winning culture at Iowa, Ferentz has since surpassed the legendary coach atop the school's all-time leaderboard. In September 2025, he surpassed Woody Hayes for the most all-time wins as a head coach at a Big Ten program.

18. Don Nehlen, 202 wins

After serving as an assistant under Bo Schembechler in the late 1970s, Nehlen went on to become one of just 18 coaches to win 200 games at the FBS level. Much of that came in his 21 years at West Virginia, where he led the Mountaineers to a 149-93-4 record (.614) and two undefeated regular seasons.

19. Vince Dooley, 201 wins

Georgia is currently in the midst of its greatest run in program history. No coach has led the Bulldogs to more wins than Dooley, who posted just one losing record in his 25 years in Athens. He also guided the school to six SEC titles and a national championship in 1980, earning him national coach of the year honors and his 4th SEC Coach of the Year award.

20. Dan McGugin, 197 wins

It's hard to win at Vanderbilt, a school that has enjoyed a winning record in just four of the past 48 seasons. That makes it all the more impressive what McGugin was able to accomplish in his 30-year run with the Commodores: winning 76.2% of his games -- and 11 conference titles, before being inducted in the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame class in 1951.

Who are the winningest college football coaches of all time?

From Saban to Paterno, there are many legendary college football coaches. Who has the best career record? Check out who has the most wins now.

www.espn.com

 

[BunchofAholes]

Updated after the win vs Wisconsin:



Kirk's current career record:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine..................(1990-1992)
208-126 (.623)........27th season at IOWA..............(1999-2025)
______________________________________________________
220-147 (.599).........Career Record
=================================

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

Good god you sound like an ISU fan. Cherry pick the years you like, dismiss the ones you don't.

 

[Franisdaman]

Good god you sound like an ISU fan. Cherry pick the years you like, dismiss the ones you don't.

How is posting his entire career record cherry picking?

Why are you outraged that I NOTED (and obviously did not dismiss) that he climbed out of a 23-45 hole after 6 years as a head coach? And guess what, dumb @$$, NOBODY likes (or is impressed by) a 23-45 record.

Good god, indeed.


This is what I posted above, where you then replied with your FALSE & VERY STUPID claims:

Kirk's current career record:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine..................(1990-1992)
208-126 (.623)........27th season at IOWA..............(1999-2025)
______________________________________________________
220-147 (.599).........Career Record
=================================

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

 

[Nashville_Hawk]

I don’t think there is any question he will be.

Concur. And despite his very mediocre results as of late, he has a ton of wins and back in the day he was an SEC killer in bowl games.

 

[BunchofAholes]

Note the hole that Kirk had to dig out of after 6 seasons as a head coach:

...........12-21 (.354)...........3 seasons at Maine...... ........ ......(1990-1992)
...........11-24 (.314).. ......first 3 seasons at IOWA........(1999-2001)
_________________________________________________________
...........23-45 (.338).........Record after 6 years as a Head Coach
===================================

It's the above. The "he had to dig out" buffering. Most every coach does when they take over a program. Every year counts.

 

[Franisdaman]

It's the above. The "he had to dig out" buffering. Most every coach does when they take over a program. Every year counts.

You're nit picking, to put it mildly.

And I clearly didn't cherry pick (which you claimed I did) when I included the 3 years at Maine and all 26 1/2 years at Iowa.

 

[BioHawk2]

Yes. Quite simply, no other coach has been able to maintain the level of consistency for as long as Kirk has at a University with the resources Iowa has. There are a lot of schools that would fit in the "Iowa" category. You'll hear about it at almost every game they play someone, or at least about how <insert school name> is using Iowa as a model for building the program. They are the standard for 2nd tier programs that other schools strive to achieve to. Many surpass Iowa but few actually stay there. Usually because the coach moves on to wealthier pastures. Hayden Fry had no small part in this, but even Hayden wasn't as consistent as Kirk has been. So, while Kirk may never win a national championship, he has had a lasting impact on college football as a whole and given that he qualifies in the statistical department (or at least should by the end of the season), he should get in.

 

[Spenshawk3]

I voted in this poll last year.

 

[Franisdaman]

The morning after Iowa's (6-2) 41-3 win over Minnesota, here is where the poll stood. As you can see below, 72.4% said that he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

VOTE: Assuming Kirk Ferentz maintains at least a .595 win percentage, is he a Hall of Famer?​

• YES, and I am NOT an Iowa fan​

  Votes: 1.........1.0%

• YES, and I am an Iowa fan​

  Votes: 70.....71.4%

• NO, and I am NOT an Iowa fan​

  Votes: 3..........3.1%

• NO, and I am an Iowa fan​

  Votes: 24.....24.5%

---

• Total voters 98

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]