IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Brian Ferentz left one of the top organizations in football to rejoin his father, coach Kirk Ferentz, at Iowa. His first season back was hardly what the younger Ferentz was hoping for after jumping from the New England Patriots to Iowa City. Brian Ferentz was a major piece of his father’s massive two-year overhaul of the Hawkeyes coaching staff. Brian, a former standout lineman for Iowa from 2001-05, left the Patriots to take over as the offensive line coach under his father before the 2012 season.

Iowa dropped its final six games and finished 4-8. Brian Ferentz isn’t making any excuses, preferring instead to focus on building enough depth during spring practice to withstand the loss of key starters.