Bye Week Hypotheticals: Iowa Hawkeyes’ succession plan, path forward
Let’s talk about it.
What does the future of the Iowa Hawkeyes look like? The landscape of college football and the Big Ten is changing. It is a new era of the sport. There are mega-conferences, NIL money to deal with, and recruiting is more national than ever before.
There are two trains of thought for the future in Iowa City. On one hand, you know there has to be a change in the offensive coordinator position. That is inevitable.
But, it isn’t coming until the season is over. Interim athletics director Beth Goetz isn’t going to create that media frenzy midseason. The most obvious path is bringing in a new offensive coordinator. There is one young talent that stands out.
On the other hand, could a changing of the guard be closer than many realize? The new-look Big Ten is a new chapter about to begin, and there is an opportunity for Kirk Ferentz to step away on his own terms after this season alongside Brian Ferentz. It is a reality that isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.
Kirk will never be asked to leave. He is an all-time great, a legend and deserves to make the call on his own terms. He can leave when he decides, but could that time be sooner than later?
In either scenario, it remains imperative for Iowa to retain Phil Parker as the defensive coordinator. Whether it shuffles the current staff or see a much bigger overhaul, Iowa should do everything in its power to keep Parker. There isn’t a coach in America who would turn down his services as a defensive coordinator.
But, the future always comes and change is inevitable. Let’s take a look at some hypothetical paths forward for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The easy fix
The Plan: Bring in a new offensive coordinator and make Brian Ferentz the offensive line coach
The most likely plan in the grand scheme of things. Some fans may gripe about Brian Ferentz being retained on the staff, but a move to let him take over the offensive line might be needed. The stats prove it.
With Brian Ferentz as the offensive coordinator, Iowa has averaged 135.8 rushing yards per game. When he coached the offensive line, they averaged 163.9 rushing yards per game. Iowa can make this move easily by relieving George Barnett from his duties, moving Brian to the offensive line, and bringing in a new offensive coordinator.
Enter Mike Shanahan, the offensive coordinator from James Madison. The 33-year-old has been calling the offense for the Dukes for the last three seasons. His resume speaks for itself.
Keep in mind, James Madison is only in its second year at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. These last two years, Shanahan’s offense has averaged 35.2 points per game, 257.2 passing yards per game, and 168.9 rushing yards per game. He is putting up an average of five touchdowns and 426 yards. He needs to be on the shortlist for Iowa. Lure him with the prestige of a Big Ten job.
Armageddon
The Plan: Complete offensive overhaul
This plan isn’t out of the realm of possibility. The inevitable relieving of duties at the offensive coordinator position is coming. Could the rest of the offensive staff follow suit?
Offensive line coach George Barnett and wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland have not seen enough production and development from their position groups. Aside from Abdul Hodge, who is churning out NFL tight ends like an assembly line, no offensive coach is guaranteed a job after this season.
This would be a complete overhaul and an Armageddon scenario for the coaching staff in Iowa City. It is certainly a drastic measure. But, drastic times call for drastic measures.
Win-at-all-costs
The Plan: Promise Urban Meyer full control of the entire program
How bad do you want to win, Iowa? If you want to be a national player, you at least pick up the phone and make the call. You have nothing to lose. Michigan State is rumored to have reached out. Iowa is objectively a better program with more resources. At least ask the question.
There is no arguing Urban Meyer can win games. He has done it as well as anyone ever has in college football. Sure, there are the off-the-field storylines to deal with. The question is if Iowa puts winning over the optics. It should.
It is unlikely and more of a wish than a potential reality, but if it were to happen, you give full control of the program to Urban Meyer. Let him recruit who he wants how he wants. He has the pedigree to make Iowa a national player in recruiting and get talent like it has never had before.
Make the call, Iowa. You have nothing to lose.
Trendy Group of Five pick
The Plan: Make Jamey Chadwell a Power Five head coach
Unlikely? Maybe. Impossible? No.
Jamey Chadwell wins games and he does it a lot. He is in his first year as the head coach of Liberty and has them 7-0. Before that, Chadwell turned Coastal Carolina into a highly successful program, morphing the Chanticleers from a team that was 3-9 in his first season into a squad that went 11-1, 11-2 and 9-3 over his final three years at the helm.
Chadwell just joined Liberty but it was more of a lateral move that paid more. Iowa has the advantages of being able to offer Chadwell a number he couldn’t turn down along with a shot to lead not only a Power Five program, but a Big Ten program with plentiful resources at his disposal.
He is also extremely offensive-minded. His offense is out of the shotgun, yet predicated on downhill running combined with many tendencies to keep defenses off balance. Chadwell has had supreme success running this offense with under-recruited players that he has turned into stars.
Chadwell is hitting his stride as well. Not only does he have a 38-6 record over the last four seasons, his offense is rolling. Since the 2020 season, Chadwell’s offenses have averaged 239 yards passing, which is respectable.
The number that should intrigue Iowa is the ground game. Chadwell’s teams have been running for 220.5 yards per game since 2020. That type of ground game with Iowa’s defense should entice anyone.
Elevate internally
The Plan: Promote LeVar Woods to head coach
This is what many assume to be the most likely path forward for Iowa. Promoting internally feels like the way the Hawkeyes are built to take. That isn’t bad by any means, either. LeVar Woods is arguably the best special teams coach in America, and he has done more than enough to earn a shot at leading the Hawkeyes.
Woods being elevated would still mean a new offensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes. That path was previously discussed with James Madison’s Mike Shanahan. What this move would offer is a higher likelihood of retaining Phil Parker. They know each other and Parker wouldn’t have to go through a full coaching staff change.
This move also provides some stability and helps with players on the roster. Moving a familiar face to the head coaching spot could curb some transfer portal entries and keep a sense of stability in the program.
Coming home
The Plan: Bring Bob Stoops home
Like Urban Meyer, it may not be overly likely, but it is a call you make. You ask Bob Stoops to come home and spend the sunset of his career as the head coach of his alma mater. The All-Big Ten Hawkeye and 1982 Team MVP could come home and be a stable leader for a program that wants to be led by the right type of guy.
Stoops can win, too. Let’s not forget that. He posted a record of 191-48 as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. Stoops went 121-29 in conference play and has a national championship under his belt. Stoops can win and win a lot.
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