There have been several outstanding coaching jobs this season, but only one really stands above the rest. Kirk Ferentz has the Iowa Hawkeyes as one of the two remaining undefeated teams after the regular season, and is our pick to win National Coach of the Year. Here are three reasons why:
3) Accomplishments
Iowa was the only undefeated team in the Big Ten this season, and one of just three Power 5 teams in the entire country to go undefeated in conference play. They also won 11 games for the first time since 2009 and 12 games for the first time in school history, along with having the chance to win their first conference title since 2004. Those are all major, major accomplishments that help push Ferentz above the rest.
2) Overachievment
However, what makes those accomplishments especially amazing is how low Iowa's expectations were this year. The Hawkeyes had a five-year stretch with at least five losses each year, including a 7-6 mark last year. Iowa was picked to finish in the middle or at the bottom of the Big Ten West in the preseason as many expected a similar record in 2015, but that has obviously not been the case.
The Hawkeyes have been THE surprise of the college football season, and Kirk Ferentz deserves credit for making it happen.
1) History
The past nine winners of the award have all come from teams that produced unexpectedly successful seasons and didn't start at the top of the polls. Just like TCU's Gary Patterson (2014 winner) and Auburn's Gus Malzahn (2013 winner), Ferentz has taken a middling team and turned them into national championship contenders. If the current trend continues - which it should - Ferentz will get the award.
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