Pause the retirement party planning for Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who intends to stay in the position he’s held for 26 season for years to come.

Ferentz, 69, is under contract as Hawkeyes head coach at an average of $7 million per year through the 2029 season. But Ferentz said he expects to sign another contract with Iowa.

“I would think so,” Ferentz told the Des Moines Register’s ‘Hawk Central’. “I think you almost have to in the world we’re living in.”

Ferentz has coached at Iowa since 1999 and has a 204-124 overall record, putting him one win shy of the Big Ten conference record for wins held by Ohio State legend Woody Hayes.

Hired by Hayden Fry as offensive line coach in 1981, Ferentz already holds Iowa’s football coaching record for wins. He’s approaching the mark for longevity, too. Fry retired at age 69.

“If you can’t do your job, I have no interest in hanging on,” Ferentz said in the interview. “I don’t think it’s going to come to that. I think it’ll be how I’m feeling toward things. The other thing is, I’ll have to figure out what it is I’m going to do when I get done.”

Iowa was 8-5 last season and is on a run of 12 consecutive winning seasons.

–Field Level Media