Leistikow: Greg Schiano nearly became Kirk Ferentz's first DC in 1999

AI-assisted summary

In 1999, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz nearly hired current Rutgers coach Greg Schiano as his defensive coordinator.

Ferentz instead hired Norm Parker, who brought Phil Parker to Iowa, a key figure in the team's defensive success.

The article also discusses the potential for young players like KJ Parker and Nathan McNeil to play larger roles on Iowa's offense.

IOWA CITY — This week, when his Iowa football team faces Rutgers, head coach Kirk Ferentz will probably think back to the events of January 1999 and have a chuckle.

In another realistic world, current Rutgers coach Greg Schiano — and not Norm Parker — would have been Ferentz’s first defensive coordinator.

Here’s the interesting back story.

Ferentz, who had been an NFL assistant for previous six years in Cleveland