Hunter
03/15/21
University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz announced the hiring of two new coaches Monday.
Former Hawkeye running back Ladell Betts will serve as running backs coach, and offensive line coach George Barnett will have the same position with Iowa.
Betts has been head coach at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale for two seasons, and was their offensive coordinator two years before that. He’s also been offensive coordinator with the NFL Prep 100 Series, serving in that position from 2011 to 2014. In a statement from Iowa Football, Betts said he was excited to return to his alma mater. He is the only running back in program history to lead the team in rushing four straight years, and played in the NFL for Washington 8 years and New Orleans in his final season.
Barnett’s hire comes less than four months after he was named offensive line coach at Tulane University. Prior to that, he was on the coaching staff at Miami of Ohio for seven seasons, rising to assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in 2016. He also spent four seasons as offensive line coach and running game coordinator at Illinois State. Barnett said he’s grateful for the opportunity to work with Coach Ferentz and “be a part of an outstanding institution and athletics program.”
Spring practice begins the last week of March, and the season opens with a home game on September 4th against Indiana.