Big Ten's Kirk Ferentz, P.J. Fleck Lead Longest Coaching Tenures

After Penn State fired James Franklin, Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck moved into the Big Ten’s No. 2 spot in coaching tenure behind Iowa’s long‑time leader Kirk Ferentz, and the two meet Saturday at Kinnick Stadium for the Floyd of Rosedale with both teams 5‑2 (3‑1 Big Ten). Ferentz, in his 27th season at Iowa, has compiled a 209‑126 record (131‑89 in conference), two Big Ten titles, eight 10‑win seasons and extraordinary staff continuity—only two longtime defensive coordinators since 1999—making Iowa a model of sustained success. Fleck, in his ninth season at Minnesota, has a 63‑41 overall record (37‑37 Big Ten), a shared division title, a 6‑0 bowl record and the “Row the Boat” culture he brought to the program. Fleck says he studies Iowa’s blueprint—low turnover and tightly connected staff—and praises Ferentz as arguably the greatest Big Ten coach, while also saying an era of that kind of longevity is unlikely to repeat in today’s impatient college‑football landscape. Historically Ferentz holds a 7‑1 edge in the series, and Iowa’s consistency (eight+ wins in every full season since 2015) underscores the contrast between the steady, veteran Hawkeyes and the younger, ascendant Gophers.