Ferentz: 'I am very happy at Iowa'

(HawkeyeSports.com) University of Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz, the longest tenured head football coach in the Big Ten Conference, reiterated Tuesday his long-term plans to remain the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

?There continues to be public speculation and questions, as recently as the December 4th press conference, regarding my coaching future at Iowa or elsewhere,? said Ferentz. ?To emphasize what I have said previously, I am very happy at Iowa. We have a great staff and group of student athletes, and we receive outstanding support from President Sally Mason and Director of Athletics Gary Barta. I fully intend to be at Iowa next year and well beyond 2012.?

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Ferentz is completing his 13th season as Iowa?s head coach, which ranks fourth longest among all FBS programs. His latest contract extension runs through the 2020 season. The Hawkeyes are bowl eligible for the 11th straight season.  Iowa has posted a 6-3 bowl record under Ferentz and his staff. The Hawkeyes are one of four programs in the nation to have won a bowl game at the conclusion of each of the last three seasons. The six bowl wins for Ferentz tie as third most among all-time Big Ten coaches.

Iowa has made two BCS bowl appearances under Ferentz, including a 24-14 win in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl. Iowa has played in six January bowl games and has four January bowl victories (2004 Outback Bowl, 2005 Capital One Bowl, 2009 Outback Bowl and 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl). Iowa has posted a 92-46 (.667) overall mark and a 54-34 (.614) Big Ten record the last 11 seasons. Ferentz has guided Iowa to 10 first division finishes, including a second-place finish in 2009.  Iowa earned Big Ten titles in 2002 and 2004.

The Hawkeyes conclude the 2011 season Dec. 30, meeting Oklahoma in the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. (9 p.m. CT, ESPN).