Iowa Football has made history. Kirk Ferentz has tied Woody Hayes for the most wins all-time by a Big Ten head football coach, reaching his 205th victory and matching a milestone that has stood for nearly five decades.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz earned his 205th career win Saturday, equaling the legendary Woody Hayes atop the Big Ten’s all-time victories list. Hayes, who coached Ohio State from 1951 to 1978, amassed 205 wins in conference play—a record widely regarded as untouchable until Ferentz’s steady tenure in Iowa City. Ferentz began the 2025 season just one win shy of matching Hayes and now joins the Buckeyes icon in conference coaching immortality.
No other active Big Ten coach has a win total close to Ferentz’s accomplishment.
- Woody Hayes, Ohio State, 1951-78 (205 wins)
- Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, 1999-present (205)
- Amos Alonzo Stagg, Chicago, 1896-1932 (199)
- Bo Schembechler, Michigan, 1969-89 (194)
- Joe Paterno, Penn State, 1993-2011 (162)
- Hayden Fry, Iowa, 1979-98 (143)
- Henry Williams, Minnesota, 1900-21 (136)
- Robert Zuppke, Illinois, 1913-41 (131)
- Lloyd Carr, Michigan, 1995-2007 (122)
- Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin, 1990-2014 (118)
Ferentz, who has patrolled the Hawkeyes’ sidelines since 1999, has built a reputation for consistency and integrity over 27 seasons. With his next win, Ferentz will stand alone as the winningest coach in Big Ten football history. The Iowa Hawkeyes take on Iowa State next Saturday from Jack Trice Stadium.
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