University of Iowa Has Found Its New Athletic Director (Sort Of)

The University of Iowa has announced the hiring of its new (sort of) Athletic Director and she is set to begin immediately. It shouldn't be much of a transition because the University didn't have to look very hard. Beth Goetz isn't exactly new to the position.

Beth has been serving as the interim AD going back to August 2nd. She can now remove interim from her resume and is officially UI's Athletic Director of Athletics. 5 months ago Beth took the podium for her first press conference as the interim AD and I believe the University of Iowa got this hiring right. She's had just under half a year to prepare for her role and I believe that this is great news for the school's students, athletes, and fans.

University of Iowa President, Barbara Wilson released this statement from Hawkeye Sports about the official hiring of Beth Goetz

Beth is a talented and dynamic leader and the national search we conducted has substantiated that she is the best athletics director for the University of Iowa. She has done a remarkable job as interim, and I am confident she will lead our athletics department and student-athletes to new levels of achievement both on the field of play and in the classroom.

The Search

It should be noted that Beth wasn't just handed the job. Despite Beth's hiring, the University did its due diligence and interviewed a plethora of candidates.

The University of Iowa searched the entire nation for a potential hire. The search was led by Nicole Grosland, the associate dean for academic programs in the College of Engineering and a professor of biomedical engineering.

Nicole Grosland spoke about the search, how impressive the candidates were, and why Beth Goetz was hired. According to Hawkeye Sports, she said

The search produced an impressive group of candidates. The committee had an opportunity to interview multiple sitting athletic directors from across the country. Beth emerged as a finalist with a strong vision to lead the department at this crucial time.

Beth Goetz History

According to Hawkeye Sports, Beth is now the University's 13th athletics director as she replaces Gary Barta, who retired on August 1st, after 17 years. Beth has previously held the position of AD at Ball State University for 4 years in which she supervised 19 D1 sports programs.

Beth was also a Chief Operating woman administrator in the University of Connecticut athletic department from 2016-2018. She also served as the University of Minnesota's deputy athletics director from 2013-2015, as well as the interim AD during the 2015-2016 season.

With the amount of experience Beth has gained over the years, the position shouldn't be too big for her. With a pedigree like that, the Hawkeyes will be in good hands. She's honored and excited to lead the Hawkeyes programs. She told Hawkeye Sports

I am truly honored and humbled to lead Iowa's storied athletics program, and I am grateful to president Wilson and the search committee for their confidence in my leadership. The University of Iowa is a World-Class institution with a demonstrated commitment to athletics excellence, and I look forward to continuing to partner with our coaches and staff in support of all our student-athletes. It is a privilege to serve our campus and our passionate Hawkeye supports.

What Do Iowa's Coaches Think?

In various statements from Iowa's coaches, released by the University of Iowa's Athletics Department, what do Iowa's coaches think about the new hire?

Tom Brands - Men's Wrestling "Beth Goetz earned her way into the business by not making it about business. She is about the right things. The Hawks got the best."

Lisa Bluder - Women's Basketball "President Wilson hit a home run with the choice of Beth Goetz to lead our Department of Athletics. Beth is a unifying leader who communicates and listens with great effectiveness. Beth is the right person to lead our department into this ever-changing athletic landscape."

Fran McCaffery - Men's Basketball "I am so excited for the future of the department and our program. Beth has been a tremendous asset to the university since she stepped foot on campus and I am thrilled she will continue to lead the Iowa Department of Athletics. I have had the opportunity to work closely with Beth and that experience and her vision for the department has been impressive. The ability to work closely with her helps our program immensely."

Kirk Ferentz - Football "I am pleased that Beth has been officially hired as our university’s newest director of athletics. Since arriving at the University of Iowa, Beth has shown a tremendous dedication to the university and a passion for our student-athletes. She has a vision that is respectful of the traditions of our athletics programs while embracing opportunities in the rapidly changing college sports landscape. Beth is highly professional, and I believe is well-equipped to navigate this new era of collegiate sports."

According to USA Today, only 24% of NCAA Athletic Director roles are held by women.