IOWA CITY — University of Iowa Moon Family head football coach Kirk Ferentz is one of 21 head coaches named to the 2023 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List. The announcement was made Thursday by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc.

The Dodd Trophy, college football’s most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity — the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.

The watch list was created through a selection process by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., taking into consideration each program’s graduation rate, commitment to service and charity in the community, projected success for the 2023 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR).

Ferentz is heading into his 25th season as Iowa’s head coach, the longest tenured head coach in college football. Ferentz has coached 13 individual national award winners and 85 NFL Draft selections during his tenure. He became Iowa’s winningest head coach on Sept. 1, 2018, and earned Big Ten win No. 100 with a 41-21 victory at Penn State in 2020.

Ferentz has led the Hawkeyes to a 186-115 overall record, including a 115-83 Big Ten Conference record. Ferentz is tied for third in the Big Ten Conference for league wins and ranks fourth in total victories. Iowa posted an 8-5 mark in 2022, winning the Music City Bowl.

Ferentz has led the Hawkeyes to 20 bowl invitations, including 12 January bowl game appearances. Iowa has won 10 or more games seven times under his direction and has been ranked in the final Top 25 rankings four of the last five seasons.

Ferentz was named the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year in 2015. He has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times (2002, 2004, 2009, 2015) and was named the Woody Hayes and Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year in 2015, as well.

The 21 coaches joining Ferentz on the preseason list represent Arkansas, Alabama, Baylor, Boise State, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech, Tulane, UCF, Utah and Wake Forest.