14
Ferentz figured he had no chance at the job, and
was using it as a resume-building experience. Now,
aer nine seasons on Fry's staff and 20 more as his
successor, Ferentz has passed Fry as the program's
winningest coach.
Two coaches. Two different coaching styles and
philosophies. Similar success.
"As a head coach you have to be yourself," said
former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who played
and coached under Fry and Ferentz at Iowa. "It's
impossible to be somebody else. It doesn't work.
"In the end, Kirk has a special way. I don't know
that any of us could have been Hayden. I love him,
but you just have to be who you are. I'm glad it has
worked so well for Kirk."
Ferentz doesn't like to talk about personal
achievements. He doesn't play to the headlines to
fuel his own ego. It's the collective effort he cares
about.
"He defers everything," Morgan said. "What has he
done? Oh, my goodness. He's rare and unique and
someone people from the state of Iowa love. He
truly walks it and believes it."
