DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz made nearly $1 million a win last season and yet kept his job — likely for years to come, too.

The Hawkeyes have been left to hope that Ferentz can prove he’s worth all the money they owe him.

Iowa is about to enter its 15th season under Ferentz, a coach who is signed through 2020 with a prohibitive buyout at roughly $3 million a year — with nonexistent national expectations. The Hawkeyes collapsed last season, losing their last six games to finish 4-8.

But Ferentz has the unquestioned support of athletic director Gary Barta, and he’s also made a number of coaching changes in hopes of reversing a disturbing three-year slide.

Iowa opens the season on August 31st when it hosts defending MAC champion Northern Illinois.