Is Tim Lester the Right Guy? Maybe. Maybe Not

Kirk Ferentz's Legacy Tied to New Offensive Coordinator Hire

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz before a game against Iowa State on Sept. 9, 2023 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

Kirk Ferentz was unlikely to deliver a splashy offensive-coordinator hire. Iowa's head coach and his son, Brian, damaged the program's reputation in that area too badly in recent years to attract big names. 

Whomever he tabbed was going to create a strong reaction. The emotional scars inflicted on the fan base during Brian's seven-year run as OC run deep. Folks wanted to turn the page as quickly as possible. 

The early feedback on Lester was lukewarm, at best, on social media channels. Again, the Hawkeyes weren't waiting on the 49ers' playoff run to end to take a shot at Kyle Shanahan. 

Lester, much like when his boss was hired here, isn't the popular choice. Nobody knows how this deal will unfold. 

If history dictates the future, cover your eyes or go get something from the fridge when the offense is on the field. Much more often than not, that phase will lag considerably behind the other two in the Ferentz formula of complementary football. 

Ken O'Keefe called the plays through the first 13 seasons of Ferentz's run. A family member told me fans would randomly call their house. They weren't nice. 

Then came Greg Davis. The Texan lasted five years. He caught more crap than O'Keefe. 

Brian took over for Davis. The criticism increased throughout his tenure, becoming vicious at the end. 

Like former Hawkeye hoops coach Dr. Tom Davis, some fans have come to appreciate O'Keefe's accomplishments over time. Shoot, K.O.K coached a Heisman runner-up in Brad Banks. 

Davis received some relief from the vitriol with an undefeated regular season in Year 4. He grabbed one more paycheck and rode off into the sunset. It was only a matter of time before Brian replaced him.

Fans were so disenchanted with Davis' work that they didn't push back when the head coach promoted his eldest offspring. Criticism against nepotism was faint. 

Followers of the Black and Gold rationalized why it would work. It was based on an assumption that Brian knew how to operate within the framework of his father's philosophy. I wrote that in praising that hire. 

Then we watched it deteriorate. "Fire Brian" chants rang out in Kinnick Stadium. He bristled during the limited times he spoke with reporters. His father deflected questions. 

Finally, then interim athletic director Beth Goetz pulled the plug on Oct. 30. She delivered the news that Brian would not be back in his current position. The decision was not autonomous. 

UI president Barbara Wilson has since given Goetz the full-time gig. In axing Brian midseason, they and donors with deep pockets applied pressure we hadn't seen before in the Kirk Ferentz era. 

What does that mean for the head Hawkeye's job security moving forward? Probably not much. He won't be fired. Maybe it's old-school thinking, but you don't fire the program's all-time winningest coach, especially after you valued him enough to keep him after the racial bias findings. 

What we will witness next is how Kirk Ferentz finalizes his coaching legacy. In preparation for it, he's hitching his wagon to Lester, whose resume is worthy of the position. 

Time will tell if he can do what his predecessor's managed only periodically during the last quarter of a century - make the Iowa offense entertaining. He must unlock the achievement of marrying his approach with the one required of him. 

You see, the national narrative roasting your new program for unwatchable offense formed while it was winning 28 games during the last three seasons, Mr. Lester. It played in the Big Ten Championship game twice in that time. 

That's the bar. This team can beat plenty of others with its dominant defense and strong special teams. It just can't rise above that until the offense contributes much more. 

It feels like reaching the new 12-team playoff should be the bar for the program moving forward. Reaching it is how Kirk Ferentz can grow his legacy and keep more fans engaged. Everybody wins. 

Listen, the guy knows more about the game than most of us ever will. He's competitive. He is hiring a dude he feels can help win games. The court of public opinion doesn't matter outside of current tickets sales. 

And if this marriage works, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come

That's what everybody around here wants, right? You should be rooting for success even if you question the hire now. 

We'll know soon enough. The snow is melting. February is here. Spring football is right around the corner. 

Get ready. It will be popcorn worthy.