Kirk Ferentz, Iowa football punished by NCAA for tampering

The NCAA punished Kirk Ferentz, the longest-tenured head coach in the FBS, and his Iowa Hawkeyes football program for tampering.

The NCAA announced on Tuesday, April 14, that Ferentz and Iowa assistant Jon Budmayr participated in “impermissible contacts” with a student-athlete enrolled at another school. The tampering occurred in November 2022. That was just before the unnamed student-athlete entered the transfer portal and enrolled at Iowa, the NCAA announced.

MORE: Former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore learns fate in alleged mistress stalking case

Under the penalties, Iowa must vacate four victories from the 2023 season. The student-athlete in question played in those contests.

“The parties agreed … Budmayr participated in 13 phone calls with the student-athlete and/or his father, as well as sending two text messages. Budmayr also arranged for the student-athlete to speak on the phone with Ferentz, who assured him that he would have a home at Iowa,” the NCAA release said.

The full list of penalties incurred by Iowa, Ferentz and Budmayr, per the NCAA:

• One year of probation.
• A fine of $25,000 (self-imposed by the school).
• A two-week ban on all football recruiting communication during the 2026 calendar year (self-imposed by the school).
• A 24-day reduction in recruiting person days, including two weeks during which Ferentz was prohibited from off-campus recruiting activity in 2025, as well as four days during which Budmayr was prohibited from recruiting during the 2025 spring evaluation period (self-imposed by the school).
• A vacation of all records in which the student-athlete competed while ineligible.
• A one-game suspension for Ferentz and Budmayr during the 2024 football season (self-imposed by the school).

After the NCAA announcement, Ferentz issued a statement, per On3.

“I am disappointed by the NCAA’s decision today,” Ferentz wrote. “Throughout the process, our program has been open and honest about my mistake – contacting a potential player in the hours before it was permissible by NCAA rules. I felt it was important to make amends for the issue, which is why I voluntarily served a one-game suspension to start the 2023 season.

“I believe today’s decision by the NCAA vacating four wins in our 2023 season is overly harsh and inconsistent with the violation. As I tell our team and staff, it is how you respond and move forward that defines you. Our focus is on the 2026 season and that is how we are moving forward.”

Ferentz is preparing for his 28th season at Iowa. The four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year is 213-128 overall and 11-11 in bowl games with the Hawkeyes. His 213 Big Ten wins rank second all-time behind Amos Alonzo Stagg.

Ferentz, 70, is under contract through 2029, per ESPN.