The nation’s current longest-tenured FBS head coach, Iowa Hawkeyes‘ Kirk Ferentz, is in some hot water and is now being forced to sit out the season opener on Aug. 31 against Illinois State.
What did Kirk Ferentz do, and why is he suspended for Iowa’s first game?
1 Game Suspension for 2 Iowa Hawkeyes Coaches, Including Kirk Ferentz
Ferentz isn’t alone in the penalty box with his wide receivers coach, Jon Budmayr, also suspended for the Hawkeyes’ season opener.
While it remains unclear if it’s a self-imposed penalty or if it was levied by the NCAA, it’s clear that the suspension came after an investigation into the recruitment of quarterback Cade McNamara, who transferred to Iowa from Michigan after the 2022 season.
McNamara spent three years at Michigan, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021 before losing his starting job to J.J. McCarthy in 2022.
Following a season backing up McCarthy, McNamara committed to Iowa on Dec. 1, 2022, just three days after entering the transfer portal on Nov. 28. Injuries have stalled his time in Ames as he is currently in a battle for the 2024 starting role against Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan.
Recruiting Violation for Iowa After Successful Pursuit of Cade McNamara
The details remain murky surrounding the specifics of the Hawkeyes’ recruiting violation, but a previous relationship between McNamara and Budmayr might reveal some context in the mean time.
When McNamara was being recruited out of high school, Budmayr was an assistant at Wisconsin and gave McNamara his first big time offer. McNamara eventually chose Michigan but kept in contact with Budmayr, leading to the pair teaming up in Iowa.
“I knew I could trust (Budmayr),” McNamara said to the Dailey Iowan in 2023. “The whole situation and scenario that he was able to present to me at Iowa — after doing a little more research, it seemed like the perfect fit. We already have really good chemistry, and I’m able to talk to him about anything.”
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Budmayr being the only other Iowa coach outside of Ferentz included in the punishment is a signal that his prior relationship with McNamara likely played a factor in the recruiting violation.
Whether it’s tampering allegations or something else, Ferentz and Budmayr will have to miss the opening festivities next week.
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