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Longtime Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz and his wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr have both received a one-game suspension over recruiting violations.
The coaches broke rules by speaking with transfer quarterback Cade McNamara before the transfer portal opened, according to The Athletic. The outlet first reported the news.
Ferentz apologized Thursday afternoon, saying it was his first Level II violation in his lengthy career. The suspension was self-imposed by Iowa amid an ongoing NCAA investigation.
McNamara committed to Iowa on Dec. 1, 2022, three days after entering the transfer portal. At that time, Budmayr was a special assistant to Ferentz. The coach had previously served as an assistant at Wisconsin, where he had unsuccessfully recruited McNamara. That relationship helped the quarterback find his way to Iowa City, according to The Athletic.
The two coaches will miss an Aug. 31 home game against Illinois State. Ferentz has been at the helm of the Iowa program since 1999, making him the longest-tenured head coach in FBS.
Before Iowa, McNamara had started for Michigan in 2021, winning a Big Ten title with the Wolverines. But he was sidelined with a knee injury after three games in 2022. After McNamara left the program, Michigan won a national championship with his former backup J.J. McCarthy. In 2023, McNamara had another season-ending knee injury five games into his Iowa career.
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