Chad Leistikow

Running back by committee also includes Mark Gronowski. What we learned about Iowa's game plan + can we see a Week 1 to 2 jump for the Hawkeyes?
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First DVR Monday of 2025 is up. What did we learn about the rest of the Hawkeyes not wearing #11?
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The Hawkeyes' best game plan in Ames after seeing the QB performances for both teams on Saturday.
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Iowa 34, Albany 7.

Early thoughts from Kinnick (will be updated here).
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If you have a loved one struggling with ADHD, you know how tough it can be to get them on the right path. Beau Stephens wasn't diagnosed until college, and it helped turned his life ... and football career ... around.

An inspiring Hawkeye.
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We have a Week 1 depth chart.

And thus, we have Week 1 depth-chart analysis ... and still a few questions.
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PODCAST: Answering 5 questions about the Hawkeyes' 2025 football schedule.
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Projecting Iowa's Week 1 depth chart.
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The Iowa football opener is big for the Iowa women's basketball program, too ... as top-tier recruit McKenna Woliczko comes to Iowa City. Can the Hawkeyes pull the upset over South Carolina?
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My colleague, Tyler, has Iowa 6-6 or 7-5. That is very much a realistic viewpoint! This season has a wide range of outcomes.

PODCAST: More on Kids Day, quarterbacks, what we learned on the BTN show & some hoops strength and conditioning at the end!
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My game-by-game predictions for the Hawkeyes in 2025.
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Mark Gronowski's strong play in fall camp has gone beyond the practice clips you've been seeing.
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PODCAST: 5 most intriguing position battles to watch at Iowa football's Kids Day practice Media coverage will ramp up on the Hawkeyes this week with a flood of information and a key practice viewing coming our way.

PODCAST: Previewing media day & Kids Day with my teammate Tyler Tachman.
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Leistikow: Outlining realistic expectations for Iowa football's 2025 season Iowa Hawkeyes football is unranked in the coaches' preseason top 25 but has a lot of potential. Exactly where Kirk Ferentz and Co. want to be, right?

Expectations about Iowa football in 2025? It's a tough year to figure out with the exciting upside of the offense, mysteries on defense + a daunting schedule.
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Part 2 of my interview with Tim Lester + our long-awaited, full-show podcast.
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What we learned from Iowa's appearance at Big Ten football media days YouTube video by Hawk Central

Live Hawk Central YouTube pod starting at 10am, here's the link to watch! (maybe bonus WBB time too)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnn3...

Leistikow: 8 big things we've learned this summer about Iowa women's basketball Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball head coach Jan Jensen summarizes what she's seen throughout the summer, with spotlights on the five newcomers.

“I'm telling you guys, all these (new) kids, I love them. I'm so pumped about them. I can't wait for our fans to see them.”

8 things we learned this summer about Iowa WBB.
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Podcast: Latest on Hawkeyes hoops; Iowa football's Raimond Braithwaite joins the show The latest on Iowa's busy basketball offseason. Plus, football strength and conditioning director Raimond Braithwaite joins the Hawk Central Hour.

PODCAST: Tyler & I talk hoops, Rai Braithwaite shares weight-room insights into his process, young guys shining.
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Leistikow: Raimond Braithwaite's profound influence on Iowa football's strength program Raimond Braithwaite says he has not shied away from the Iowa Hawkeyes football training program designed by former boss Chris Doyle.

Raimond Braithwaite is now his his 21st year in Iowa's strength program, the same length as his boss Chris Doyle was. How he was able to take over and stabilize the program in a difficult time, 5 summers ago.
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Leistikow's 4 Iowa basketball thoughts: Brendan Hausen's hot day, Trevin Jirak's fast rise A glimpse at Iowa men's basketball practice and subsequent interviews shed light on the progress of Ben McCollum's first Hawkeye team.

Brendan Hausen lighting it up, Trevin Jirak looks like the real deal and Fran-era guys coming back to help Ben McCollum.
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Ben McCollum will join us live as well! 7pm Wednesday, come on out and say hey and listen!

Leistikow: Spotlight on trusted Iowa women's basketball assistant coach Abby Stamp Of Jan Jensen's 5 assistant coaches, only Abby Stamp is a holdover from the Lisa Bluder era. Her voice is crucial for Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball

She doesn't care about attention, but Abby Stamp remains a key fixture on an Iowa WBB staff with big goals for the future under Jan Jensen.

“I learned from Lisa, Jan and Jenni a long time ago that the players are the ones that deserve the shine.”
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Leistikow: When will Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz retire? It might be a while In Part 2 of his Des Moines Register interview, Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz tells stories of dysfunction and stability during his coaching career

Part II of my sitdown with Kirk Ferentz focuses on what he learned from the NFL dysfunction that helps him today.

Plus, when will he retire? Iowa's 27th-year head coach offers clues.
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Leistikow: How 3 years of Maine missteps shaped Kirk Ferentz's approach with Iowa football The 27th-year Iowa football head coach peels back some of the lessons he learned while coaching in Maine, exactly half a lifetime ago.

Drove through Orono, Maine, recently and wondered what Kirk Ferentz's time there was really like. Iowa's HC opens up about what he learned in his 3-year stint there and how it helped him last 27 years (and counting) in his 2nd chance.
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Leistikow: FAQs about Iowa athletics and revenue sharing as it prepares for July 1 How might the Hawkeyes distribute their $20.5 million in payments? What does this mean for non-revenue sports? Let's look at the new landscape.

Rev-share FAQs!
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PODCAST: The House settlement ramifications for Iowa athletics, starting with football Breaking down what the approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement could mean for Iowa sports now and in the future.

PODCAST: The House vs. NCAA impact on Iowa athletics.
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Leistikow: Iowa football's annual late-June recruiting push gets put to the test Why Iowa Hawkeyes football's philosophy remains largely unchanged, even as top targets get snapped up in an aggressive recruiting world.

8 of Iowa's 9 commitments in the Class of 2026 are on offense. This is a defense-focused month in recruiting as the Hawkeyes hope to land 5-8 more top targets in June.
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Leistikow: Inside Iowa football's plans to pay its roster in new revenue-sharing model While dollar figures won't be made public, Iowa GM/chief of staff Tyler Barnes offered a candid window into the Hawkeyes' paying-players approach.

How will Iowa pay its football roster come July 1?

Great insight here from Tyler Barnes, in column form.
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PODCAST: 1-on-1 with Iowa football general manager Tyler Barnes With revenue sharing still not finalized but expected to begin July 1, Barnes joins Chad Leistikow to outline Iowa's "salary" structure and more.

Hope you guys enjoy this interview with Tyler Barnes. Definitely gets your primed for the Hawkeyes' place in the new direct-pay-to-players world that begins July 1.
www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports...