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Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant coach Jon Budmayr have been handed one-game suspensions related to a violation stemming from the recruitment of transfer quarterback Cade McNamara, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The suspensions come as a result of an NCAA investigation, although specific details regarding the violation have not been publicly disclosed.
Kirk Ferentz, the longest-tenured FBS coach in the nation, has been at the helm of Iowa's football program since 1999.
Known for his stability and consistency, Ferentz's suspension marks a significant event in his long career. Jon Budmayr, who currently serves as the Hawkeyes' wide receivers coach, will also serve a one-game suspension.
Budmayr ed Iowa's coaching staff as an offensive analyst in 2022 and was promoted to wide receivers coach after serving as a special assistant to Ferentz in 2023.
The timing of these suspensions is particularly notable as Iowa is set to open its season on August 31 against Illinois State. With Ferentz and Budmayr sidelined, the Hawkeyes will need to adjust their game-day operations for the opener.
The Cade McNamara connection
The suspensions are reportedly linked to the recruitment of Cade McNamara, who transferred to Iowa from Michigan. McNamara, a former starter for the Wolverines, committed to Iowa on December 1, 2022, just three days after entering the transfer portal as a graduate transfer.
He played a pivotal role in Michigan's 2021 season, leading the team to a Big Ten championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. However, a leg injury in the third game of the 2022 season ended his campaign prematurely.
McNamara has faced additional injury challenges since ing the Hawkeyes but has been competing for the starting quarterback position during preseason camp.
While Ferentz announced in July that McNamara would be the starter, he continues to face competition from Brendan Sullivan, a transfer from Northwestern.
As Iowa prepares for its season opener, the team will have to navigate the absence of its head coach and key assistant.
Ferentz is expected to address during a scheduled press conference on Thursday. This situation adds an unexpected layer of complexity to the start of the Hawkeyes' season, and how the team responds will be closely watched.