after playing football at upper st. clair high school near pittsburgh, pennsylvania, ferentz played linebacker for the university of connecticut. he was a football captain and an academic all-yankee conference linebacker at connecticut. he served as a student assistant at connecticut in 1977 and graduated in 1978. ferentz spent his next two seasons as defensive coordinator at worcester academy, where he taught english literature. he then spent one season in 1980 as an assistant offensive line coach at the university of pittsburgh. the 1980 pittsburgh panthers football team, coached by jackie sherrill, finished with an 11–1 record and a number two national ranking.