IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Kirk Ferentz, who was named Associated Press Coach of the Year, said Wednesday he will stay at Iowa.

Ferentz recently interviewed with Jacksonville Jaguars' owner Wayne Weaver about the team's head coaching job, causing speculation that he might leave the Hawkeyes.

"The attention I have received regarding an NFL head coaching position with the Jacksonville Jaguars has been flattering," Ferentz said in a statement. "However, my heart continues to lie with the University of Iowa ..."

The four-year coach will get an 8 percent raise, or $72,800, for his loyalty -- that brings his total salary to nearly $983,000, plus hundreds of thousands more in incentives.

With incentives, his total compensation topped $1.3 million this season. Under a longevity clause in his contract, he is scheduled to get another $300,000 on March 1.

"I am very pleased that we have been able to restructure Kirk's contract in a way that meets his needs as well as those of the university," Iowa Athletic Director Bob Bowlsby said. "The increase ... is additional recognition of the outstanding work he has done for our program."

Speculation that Ferentz would leave for the pros came during the height of the recruiting season. But Bowlsby said he is unaware that the uncertainty prompted any recruits that have committed or are still considering Iowa to change their minds.

"Recruiting has gone exceptionally well, and I guess that now some of the speculation is out of the way it will continue to go well," Bowlsby said.

Ferentz is on a recruiting trip in Florida and was not available for comment.

Ferentz' previous contract, scheduled to run through June 30, 2009, already guaranteed him a base salary of $910,000 a year. Bowlsby said Ferentz' coaching staff would also receive 6 percent raises, effective July 1.

Bowlsby said the restructured contract for Ferentz continues to peg incentives to academic and athletic achievement. It also changes the timetable for incentives tied to staying at Iowa.

"I don't think we were under any obligation to restructure it, but I think we always want the agreements to be just as comfortable for the coach as it is with us," he said. "The restructuring of this agreement benefited Kirk in some tangible ways, and it benefited us."

Ferentz spent six years as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens and has many friends in the NFL. He was an assistant coach at Iowa in the 1980s.

Bowlsby praised Ferentz for being open and honest during his talks with Jacksonville owner Wayne Weaver. Bowlsby said he was notified of the talks early last week and that Ferentz was a leading candidate for the post.

Ferentz "understands that we can't go back to the well year in and year out. We can't compete in the open market place... with regard to professional franchises," Bowlsby said. "There may be a day when we lose him to the perfect situation. But I feel a little better about that now than at any other time."

Other candidates for the Jacksonville job include Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who also has interviews scheduled with the Bengals and Carolina defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

49ers Coach Steve Mariucci also is in the running. He appears to be the prime candidate for the job after being fired Wednesday after years of growing division with 49ers owner John York.

Ferentz now is the highest-paid college football coach in Iowa. Iowa State coach Dan McCarney recently agreed to a new contract that will pay him $925,000 annually through June 2010.

Originally published Thursday, January 16, 2003