Iowa Ideas 2025
Keynote Speakers

Kirk Ferentz is in his 27th year as Head Coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. Ferentz is the longest-tenured football coach in FBS football. He has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year four times, National Coach of the Year twice, and enters the 2025 season ranked second all-time in Big Ten conference wins (128) and overall wins (204).

Under his leadership, Iowa has won two Big Ten Championships, three Big Ten West Division crowns and earned 22 bowl game invitations in 26 seasons. Ferentz has coached 18 consensus first team all-Americans, 32 first-team all-Americans, and 12 academic all-Americans.

Kirk and Mary have been married for 45 years, have five adult children and 13 grandchildren. The Ferentzes have donated millions of dollars to important causes around Iowa including the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Mary Ferentz has been an advocate for many causes throughout her life including serving as Chair of the Children’s Hospital Council from 2006-19. Mary was one of the driving forces behind the Iowa Ladies’ Football Academy, which raised more than $3 million for the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital between 2010-2022.

Kirk and Mary have been married for 45 years, have five adult children and 13 grandchildren. The Ferentzes have donated millions of dollars to important causes around Iowa including the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Heather Gudenkauf is the Edgar Award nominated, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including The Overnight Guest and her most recent thriller Everyone is Watching. Her debut novel, The Weight of Silence, was an instant NYT bestseller and remained on the list for 22 weeks. Gudenkauf’s critically acclaimed novels have been published in over 25 countries and have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Her books have been featured on many Best Of roundups including lists by The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Amazon, Apple Books, GoodReads, and more. Her eleventh novel, The Perfect Hosts will be released on November 4, 2025. Heather lives in Iowa with her family.