Coach Kirk Ferentz announced Wednesday that Ken O’Keefe will be moving from Iowa’s quarterbacks coach to an off the field role with Hawkeyes.
O’Keefe was part of Ferentz’s initial staff at Iowa. He served as the offensive coordinator (1999-2011) as well as receivers coach (1999), and quarterbacks coach (2000–2011).
O’Keefe, who left the NFL in 2011, returned to Iowa City to become a coach of quarterbacks in 2017.
O’Keefe stated, “My family and I are extremely grateful to coach Ferentz and the players, especially the quarterbacks, as well as the University of Iowa staff and Hawkeye football fans, for all of their support over the years.”
It is difficult to leave a job you love and the place you work in. However, I feel confident that it is the right time for me to leave the field and pursue a new opportunity.
O’Keefe’s 45-year coaching career spans over. After leading Allegheny College towards the national title, O’Keefe was named Division III national coach-of-the-year in 1990.
Iowa didn’t specify O’Keefe’s future role.
Ferentz stated that while we will miss him on Saturdays, Ferentz expressed his gratitude for his knowledge and perspective to help the entire program.
