The University of Iowa hired Tom Moore, the 83-year-old offensive coordinator who orchestrated Indianapolis's attacks from 1998 to 2009, as part of head coach Kirk Ferentz's offseason staff overhaul. Moore spent 12 seasons calling plays for Peyton Manning and helped the Colts average 24.8 points per game across that span, including a Super Bowl XLI win. Iowa ranked 125th nationally in yards per play last season at 4.83, third-worst in the Big Ten.
Ferentz, who has led Iowa since 1999, dismissed offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz—his son—in November after the Hawkeyes averaged 17.6 points per game and finished 10-3 with a bowl-eligible record despite the offensive numbers. The Iowa athletic department tied Brian Ferentz's retention to a performance clause requiring the offense to finish in the top half of FBS in scoring; they finished 118th. The elder Ferentz's contract runs through 2029 at $7 million per year, and three losing seasons in four years would cost the university $42 million in buyout exposure. Hiring Moore, who last coached in the NFL with Arizona in 2018, signals an effort to import scheme credibility without the recruitment burden of a younger coordinator chasing a head-coaching ladder.
Moore's addition matters for three reasons. First, Iowa's 2024 quarterback depth chart includes Cade McNamara, a Michigan transfer who threw 14 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 10 games last season, and Marco Lainez, a true freshman who enrolled early. Moore's Colts tenure coincided with Manning's 4,557 passing yards per season average and 33 touchdowns per year. Iowa's quarterbacks haven't topped 2,600 yards in a season since 2016. If McNamara's arm improves under Moore's tutelage, the offense climbs from uncompetitive to bowl-worthy, which protects Ferentz's seat and keeps Iowa's $100 million annual athletic revenue stream stable. Second, Moore's hire bypasses the usual coordinator carousel entirely. He doesn't want a head-coaching job. He isn't leaving for LSU or Oklahoma. The stability matters in a conference where every offensive coordinator is interviewing by Week 8. Third, Moore's presence is a recruiting close. High school quarterbacks and their families know the name. Iowa signed zero four-star recruits on offense in the 2024 class, per 247Sports. Moore's Rolodex and résumé give position coaches a new script.
The offensive line remains Iowa's structural advantage. The Hawkeyes returned four starters from a unit that allowed 1.5 sacks per game last season, 18th nationally. Moore inherits that foundation, plus tight end Luke Lachey, who caught 32 passes for 377 yards and 4 touchdowns despite Iowa's anemic passing volume. The Colts under Moore leaned heavily on play-action off the run threat, and Iowa's run game ranked 34th nationally at 180 yards per game. If Moore imports even a simplified version of Indianapolis's constraint plays—the quarterback bootleg, the shallow cross off play-action, the screen game that punished overpursuit—Iowa's offense climbs 30 spots in efficiency without adding a single five-star.
Two uncertainties loom. Moore's age is real. His last NFL season was six years ago. The college game has shifted toward tempo and RPO concepts that the Colts rarely used, and Iowa's roster isn't built for hurry-up. If Moore runs a 2005 playbook in 2024, the efficiency gains evaporate. The second risk is Ferentz's own decision-making. Iowa's head coach has a 26-year track record of conservative fourth-down behavior and preference for field position over aggression. Moore's Colts went for it on fourth down twice as often as the league average during his tenure. If Ferentz overrides Moore's fourth-and-short calls, the hire becomes cosmetic.
Watch for Iowa's spring game attendance on April 20, when Moore's offense debuts publicly. Last year's spring game drew 43,000, and ticket sales are a leading indicator of fan sentiment and donor engagement. Also watch for assistant hires around Moore. Iowa needs a quarterbacks coach, and Moore's input on that hire will signal whether this is genuine scheme renovation or window dressing. The Big Ten media days in late July will clarify whether Moore is leading offensive installs or functioning as an advisor. The Hawkeyes open August 31 against Illinois State, then face Iowa State on September 7. If Iowa's offense scores fewer than 21 points in either game, the Moore hire becomes a punchline by Labor Day.
Iowa's 2025 recruiting class currently ranks 47th nationally, with zero offensive commits rated above three stars. Moore has four months to change that narrative before the early signing period in December. The Colts went 115-61 with him calling plays. Iowa went 7-6 last season despite a defense that ranked 12th nationally in points allowed. The math is simple: add 10 points per game, and Iowa wins 10 games. Moore built a career on that kind of arithmetic.
The takeaway
Moore's Colts averaged **24.8 points per game** across **12 seasons**; Iowa's offense averaged **17.6** last year and needs **10 more points per game** to win the Big Ten West.
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