Sources: Ferentz suspended for QB recruiting

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr will be suspended one game for a violation related to the recruitment of transfer quarterback Cade McNamara, it was announced Thursday.

Iowa said the Level II violation occurred in late 2022 surrounding improper communication with a player and his family prior to him entering the portal. McNamara is not named in the school’s news release.

Ferentz is the nation’s longest-tenured FBS coach, having led Iowa since the 1999 season. Budmayr serves as the Hawkeyes’ wide receivers coach after working as a special assistant to Ferentz in 2023 and offensive analyst in 2022.

Ferentz and athletic director Beth Goetz agreed to the school-imposed penalty after a review and consulting with NCAA officials. The NCAA’s investigation is ongoing.

“I frequently tell our players to abide by the rules, and in this instance, I did not.” Ferentz said in a statement. “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.”

Iowa is set to open the season Aug. 31 at home against Illinois State, and co-defensive coordinator/assistant head coach Seth Wallace will serve as interim head coach for the opener.

Ferentz is scheduled to speak with reporters Thursday afternoon to wrap up preseason training camp.

“Coach Ferentz and I made the decision to self-impose the penalties, allowing the program to move forward without distraction,” Goetz said. “I appreciate the accountability demonstrated and we will continue to fully cooperate with the NCAA through this process.”

McNamara committed to Iowa on Dec. 1, 2022, just three days after entering the portal as a graduate transfer. He started for Michigan in 2021 as the team won the Big Ten and reached the College Football Playoff but suffered a season-ending leg injury in the third game of the 2022 season.

McNamara has battled injuries throughout his time at Iowa but opened the 2023 season as the Hawkeyes’ starter. Although Ferentz announced in July that McNamara was the starter, McNamara and Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan have been competing for the job in camp.

Budmayr, a former Wisconsin quarterback, was offensive coordinator at Colorado State in 2021 before joining the Iowa staff.