Iowa suspends football coach Kirk Ferentz for recruiting violation

Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr are suspended for the Hawkeyes' season opener as part of a school-imposed penalty for a recruiting violation in late 2022.

Ferentz, the longest-tenured coach in the FBS who has led Iowa since the 1999 season, admitted to a Level II violation for contacting a player and his family prior to him entering the transfer portal.

"I frequently tell our players to abide by the rules, and in this instance, I did not." Ferentz said in a statement issued Thursday. "In 26 years as a head coach at Iowa -- and more than four decades as a coach -- this is my first potential Level II NCAA infraction. I made a mistake and would like to apologize to our players, University leadership, and our Hawkeye football fans. I know Coach Budmayr echoes those sentiments."