The Iowa Hawkeyes’ Announce New, Full-Time Athletic Director

The University of Iowa has a new, full-time Athletic Director for the first time since August 2023 following the retirement of Gary Barta, who held the role for 17 years. The move comes at a critical time for the Hawkeye football team in particular, who is searching for a new offensive leader.

The University of Iowa announced that interim Athletic Director Beth Goetz would be assuming the role permanently, effective Thursday, January 18th, 2024. Goetz served as Iowa's Deputy Athletics Director prior to being named the interim AD in August 2023.

University of Iowa interim Athletic Director Beth Goetz will be staying in the role permanently, the university announced Thursday.

News of Goetz's promotion to full-time AD circulated on social media, with reporter Pete Thamel revealing from his sources that Goetz agreed to a five-year deal as permanent AD. She was also commended by University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson in a statement:

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. - University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson

 

Hawkeye football coach Kirk Ferentz also extended some kind words to Goetz following her promotion:

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. - Kirk Ferentz

Goetz's promotion comes at a pivotal time for the football team in particular as the search for an offensive coordinator persists. It was announced back in October that Ferentz's son, Brian Ferentz, wouldn't return as offensive coordinator in 2024 after another year of a statistically anemic offense.

This week, it was revealed former Wisconsin head coach/current Texas offensive coordinator Paul Chryst turned down the opportunity to succeed Brian Ferentz as Iowa's OC. That would've been an enormous and promising hire for a team in desperate need of a major lift offensively.

Now, Goetz will oversee that pivotal hire as the Big Ten expands next year, with USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington joining the conference. Read more about Beth Goetz's promotion as the University of Iowa Athletic Director on KCRG's website.