Iowa Football’s Future: Seven Realistic Candidates with Records and Resumes

The unthinkable might finally happen. If Kirk Ferentz retires after this season, Iowa football faces its most important hire since Hayden Fry arrived from North Texas. Ferentz has been the face of the program for a generation, a steadying presence who turned Iowa into one of the Big Ten’s most consistent winners. His exit would mark the end of an era, and a moment for Iowa to decide whether it wants to double down on what has worked for 25 years or take a calculated risk to modernize.

Beth Goetz will not have the luxury of simply picking “a guy.” The Big Ten is now a super league, with USC, Oregon, Washington, and UCLA in the mix. Iowa must hire someone who can protect its defensive identity, embrace the NIL and transfer portal, and ultimately raise the offensive floor. Here are seven candidates who fit Iowa’s culture and could credibly lead the Hawkeyes into the next decade.

Rhett Lashlee – SMU (20–9)

Lashlee worked under Goetz at UConn in 2017, thanked her publicly when he left, and has since turned SMU into a playoff-caliber program. His record sits at 20–9 since taking over in 2022, capped by an AAC title and a College Football Playoff berth. At 42, Lashlee is young enough to grow with Iowa into the Big Ten’s next era. He runs a balanced yet creative offense, recruits quarterbacks effectively, and carries himself with quiet steadiness that would play well in Iowa City. His direct tie to Goetz might make him the most seamless transition candidate on the board.

Jason Candle – Toledo (67–35)

Candle is a Midwestern lifer with a proven blueprint. He has compiled a 67–35 record with multiple MAC championships and consistent bowl appearances. His Toledo teams are disciplined, physical, and fundamentally sound, a mirror image of what Iowa fans expect, just with a more functional offense. Candle would be a steady, low drama hire who could give Iowa another decade of stability while modernizing its passing game.

LeVar Woods – Iowa Special Teams Coordinator

If Goetz wants to keep the program’s soul completely intact, Woods is the internal candidate to watch. A former Iowa linebacker who spent seven seasons in the NFL, Woods has been on Ferentz’s staff for over a decade. It has transformed Iowa’s special teams into a national powerhouse. He is recognized as one of the program’s top recruiters and holds credibility with players, donors, and alumni alike. The risk is that he has never been a head coach, but Woods would be the sentimental choice who keeps Iowa’s identity intact.

Kane Wommack – Alabama Defensive Coordinator (22–16 as HC)

Wommack revived South Alabama’s program, going 22–16 over three seasons with back-to-back ten-win campaigns before joining Alabama under Kalen DeBoer. At just 38 years old, he is one of the nation’s rising defensive minds and has Big Ten experience from his time as Indiana’s defensive coordinator. Known for meticulous preparation and a hard-nosed approach, Wommack could preserve Iowa’s defensive identity while hiring a creative offensive coordinator to solve the program’s most glaring problem.

Brian Hartline – Ohio State Offensive Coordinator

Hartline is one of the best recruiters in the country and the architect of Ohio State’s five-star receiver pipeline. At 38, he is young, charismatic, and connects naturally with players. The downside is his lack of head-coaching experience. Still, the upside is enormous: instant recruiting juice, offensive credibility, and the chance to rebrand Iowa as more than just a defensive powerhouse.

Andy Kotelnicki – Penn State Offensive Coordinator

Kotelnicki is the quiet system-builder who might be the perfect solution to Iowa’s offensive woes. At Kansas, he designed one of the nation’s most creative and efficient attacks, turning the Jayhawks into a contender, and now he is doing the same for Penn State. His approach balances motion, misdirection, and a physical run game — exactly what Iowa fans crave.

Sean Lewis – San Diego State (26–32 overall)
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Lewis is a Midwest native who made his name by turning Kent State, one of the most challenging jobs in the FBS, into a competitive, high-tempo program. His overall record of 26–32 is misleading, considering his starting point. Now at San Diego State, he has a chance to refine his offense-first philosophy. Lewis is the boldest option on this list, the one that would overhaul Iowa’s identity overnight, but he could turn Iowa from a plodding punchline into a genuine Big Ten problem.

The Verdict

If Beth Goetz values trust and shared history, Rhett Lashlee is the safest bet. If she wants a proven winner with a Midwest blueprint, Jason Candle is the leader. If she wants to keep the family together, LeVar Woods is the ideal choice. Wommack, Hartline, Kotelnicki, and Lewis each offer different flavors of youth, energy, and offensive modernization, with varying levels of risk.

Whatever Goetz decides, this is Iowa’s chance to write a new chapter. The next coach will inherit a top-25 program with elite defensive talent and a fan base starved for an offense that can do more than survive. Get this hire right, and Kinnick Stadium will not just stay full; it might get louder.