New Iowa AD Press Conference
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00:00 [INTERPOSING VOICES]
00:03 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
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00:52 OK, good afternoon and welcome.
00:55 Appreciate your coverage of Hawkeye Athletics
00:58 and everyone making it here safely today.
01:02 The format will be some opening comments and an introduction
01:06 from President Wilson.
01:08 Beth Goetz will then have an opening statement followed
01:11 by some Q&A for Beth.
01:15 When we get to the Q&A portion, please raise your hand.
01:18 We have two microphone holders, John and Jack.
01:23 They'll bring you the microphone.
01:25 We will have a transcript of today's news conference.
01:28 We'll send that out later this afternoon.
01:31 At this time, I'd like to welcome to the podium
01:33 University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson.
01:36 [APPLAUSE]
01:39 I don't know if any of you noticed,
01:45 but I have a little step stool back here.
01:47 So thank you so much.
01:50 Makes me feel right at home.
01:52 Thank you for being here.
01:54 We're delighted that you're here, especially
01:56 all these student athletes.
01:57 Wow, amazing that you turned out for today.
02:00 I'm really delighted.
02:02 And I see several of our coaches out there, too.
02:05 So I'm going to publicly introduce
02:07 what you already know.
02:08 It's old news now in some ways.
02:10 But we're going to keep celebrating as much as we can.
02:14 I'm delighted to introduce the University of Iowa's
02:16 Athletic Director Beth Goetz, who
02:19 will now hold the Henry B. And Patricia B. Tippie
02:23 Director of Athletics Chair.
02:26 As many of you know, Beth is a tremendous leader
02:29 who will really take athletics to the next level,
02:32 to the next stage here at the University of Iowa.
02:35 I know it.
02:35 I think you know it.
02:36 We're really excited to see where we go.
02:40 As you know, we had a national search.
02:42 Many people ask me, why would you
02:43 hold a national search when you have a crown
02:45 jewel sitting right here?
02:47 And my answer was, a search substantiates
02:51 that she's the right person.
02:52 And that's what happened.
02:53 She went through a very vigorous and competitive search process.
02:57 And we had a great search committee.
02:59 And it was a tremendous amount of support
03:01 for Beth in this position.
03:03 I just thought I'd share with you just one of many references
03:07 that we collected about Beth.
03:10 Someone else said, Beth is one of the smartest
03:13 in the business.
03:14 But she balances that with a high humility, low ego
03:19 approach to her job.
03:21 She has served in just about every capacity
03:23 that you can in an athletics department.
03:26 In addition, she has served on numerous local and national
03:29 committees, has conducted numerous high level coaching
03:32 searches, and has engaged in fundraising
03:36 for multiple major campaigns.
03:39 She is pressure tested and has always
03:42 led with integrity and with vision.
03:45 Leaders around the country will run to Iowa
03:48 to work with and for her.
03:51 I couldn't have said it better.
03:53 As you know, collegiate athletics
03:56 is at, in some ways, a point of multiple transitions.
03:59 We're seeing a lot of issues nationally,
04:02 across the country, across the state, even in Iowa.
04:06 And we need a leader who's going to take us forward
04:09 into the next era.
04:12 And a leader who is super focused on student athletes.
04:16 And that's what I'm really excited about.
04:17 And the coaches, and the staff here.
04:20 And the other thing I will say is,
04:22 Beth is also really focused on the academic enterprise.
04:25 We never want to forget that collegiate athletics is
04:28 at its best when it's part of the academic institutions
04:32 that we all work for and live in and support.
04:35 So it's my delight and honor to welcome
04:38 Beth Goetz as our new athletic director.
04:41 Please.
04:42 [APPLAUSE]
04:44 She doesn't need a step stool.
04:50 Well, thank you, President Wilson, for your kind words
05:03 and for this incredible opportunity and the confidence
05:06 that you have in me.
05:08 In your leadership, I'll have a daily example
05:11 of what it means to build community, embrace a bold vision,
05:15 and work with a relentless commitment to success.
05:18 I look forward to working in partnership
05:20 with you, the Board of Regents, the cabinet,
05:23 and all of our campus leaders to serve and support
05:26 the mission of this institution.
05:29 I am just so honored, truly humbled,
05:32 to be the Henry B. Patricia B. Director of Athletics Chair
05:37 here at the University of Iowa.
05:39 To the search committee, the chair, Nicole Grosslin,
05:42 I'm grateful for your efforts and time through this process.
05:46 While I've been on campus for about 16 months
05:49 and recognize there is still much to learn,
05:51 it took me about 10 minutes to figure out
05:54 how truly special being a Hawkeye really is.
05:58 To our student athletes, our alums, coaches, staff, campus
06:02 partners, and passionate fan base,
06:04 thank you for opening your arms to me.
06:07 The great tradition, current success,
06:09 and future accomplishments belong to each of you.
06:12 And I will steward that responsibility
06:14 with an unyielding effort and great pride.
06:17 University of Iowa is a world-class institution.
06:20 The Big Ten is the best conference in the country.
06:23 And we have an amazingly talented team.
06:28 Before I move on with the rest of my remarks,
06:30 I'll just ask a little patience as I say a few more
06:32 thank yous to those who have been so important to me
06:35 through my journey.
06:37 I've been blessed with many champions in my life.
06:40 And with each step, they have been by my side.
06:42 My family has shared in every win and loss
06:45 with me as a student athlete, a coach, and administrator
06:49 through countless games.
06:51 And yes, I know you all still draw
06:53 straws about who has to call me after a loss.
06:56 They think I'm a little competitive and not so fun
06:58 to be around at that moment.
07:01 To my mom, my dad, my Aunt Mary, who's
07:03 always supported my dreams, to the rest of the Getz girls,
07:07 Kristen, Sarah, and Katie, my best friends and sisters,
07:11 your belief in me has never wavered.
07:13 My brother-in-laws, my nieces and nephews,
07:15 Olivia, Maddie, Maren, Miles, and Gage,
07:18 so incredibly proud of you all.
07:21 I would not be who I am today without your constant love
07:23 and support.
07:25 To Jen, who is my voice of reason, my courage,
07:27 and my true partner, to the Frazier family,
07:30 I'm just so grateful for this amazing crew who
07:33 is watching literally from coast to coast,
07:35 spreading Hawkeye spirit.
07:37 You all make me better each and every day.
07:40 To my coaches and my teammates, to the athletes
07:43 I had a privilege to coach, and the many colleagues and mentors
07:46 who have shaped my path, I am grateful for all
07:49 that I have learned from you.
07:51 I'd like to acknowledge Gary Barta for his hard work
07:54 and stewardship in turning over such a respected athletics
07:58 program, and for the opportunity to first join
08:01 this great Hawkeye team.
08:03 To Ball State President Jeffrey Mertz and UConn AD
08:07 David Benedict, my gratitude and admiration for you
08:10 both is limitless.
08:12 Thank you for your investment in me, your friendship,
08:15 and for being true examples of leadership.
08:18 To so many others who have touched my journey,
08:21 thank you for your words of wisdom,
08:23 for your candid criticism that challenged me and helped me
08:25 grow, and for being examples of how to serve student athletes.
08:30 For decades, the University of Iowa
08:34 has attracted and developed generational talents, past
08:37 and future Hall of Fame coaches, trailblazers,
08:40 and industry leaders like Dr. Christine Grant,
08:43 athletes who have changed their sport
08:45 and left their mark on the hearts of our fans.
08:48 We will work hard to honor all that came before
08:51 and the next group that is sure to walk through our doors.
08:54 Our obligation will be to do what is right,
08:56 to hold tight to our great tradition
08:59 while not being afraid to embrace
09:01 a creative and nimble approach that
09:02 allows the Hawks to be successful in this new age
09:05 of college athletics.
09:07 Supporting our athletes to graduation,
09:10 the responsibility to represent this great institution
09:13 with integrity in competing for Big Ten
09:16 and national championships will remain our priorities.
09:20 We have the great privilege and opportunity to touch lives
09:23 and to support young men and women in pursuit
09:26 of their dreams and to help shape the future leaders
09:29 of this great community, state, and beyond.
09:32 To our student athletes, and it's
09:34 so touching to see so many of you here with us today,
09:38 know that our team will be your biggest champions.
09:42 Your well-being will be the guiding force
09:44 for every decision we make.
09:46 I look forward to continuing to work closely
09:49 with such an amazing group of coaches.
09:51 You can put this group against any other in the country.
09:54 Lisa Bluter, Kirk Ferentz, Tom Brands, Lisa Cellucci, Rick
09:58 Heller, Sasha, Jeff Garbutt--
10:00 I'm not sure who else is here.
10:02 We've got a long list--
10:03 Dave DeAnni, just an incredible, incredible group of coaches.
10:09 And their success, their character,
10:11 the impact that they make on their athletes
10:14 and the imprint on our institution is second to none.
10:18 Our dedicated staff will continue
10:20 to go above and beyond in support of our teams.
10:23 And we have so many other credible partners
10:25 across this campus.
10:27 Couple this with the generosity of our donors, sponsors,
10:30 and fans, whose financial contributions
10:33 are critical to our success.
10:35 And together, we will provide you
10:36 with a first-class experience on and off the fields of play.
10:41 While pursuit of a University of Iowa degree
10:43 will always be central to this transformational experience,
10:47 we recognize the system is changing.
10:50 We will listen to the voices of our athletes
10:52 and recognize the value that you bring to our strong Iowa brand.
10:57 We will prioritize ensuring we are prepared for what
11:00 is to come tomorrow, use data to drive our decisions,
11:04 be an engaged partner with our many stakeholders.
11:07 Let's embrace high expectations, commit to innovation,
11:11 not be afraid to make a mistake, and enjoy
11:14 all the special moments and victories
11:16 that come along the way.
11:18 Change equals opportunity.
11:20 And I am confident the Hawks were well-positioned
11:22 to navigate the shifting college athletics landscape.
11:27 My pledge to all of you here today
11:30 is to lead the University of Iowa with this foundation.
11:33 I will serve with integrity, transparency,
11:36 and a relentless drive for success.
11:39 The athletic department will partner closely
11:41 with the campus and faculty, with our community leaders,
11:45 with Tony Petitti and the Big Ten Conference,
11:48 and our loyal and passionate fans.
11:51 We will chase winning.
11:53 We will be champions in competition
11:55 and in preparing our young men and women for the next 40
11:59 years of their lives.
12:01 Our commitment is to earn the pride and passion
12:04 of the Hawkeye faithful every step of the way.
12:07 We all know the strength that lies in this team.
12:10 Together, we will embrace the ambitious spirit
12:13 so prevalent here at the University of Iowa.
12:17 We're going to support the growth and academic success
12:19 of our students.
12:21 We'll strive for competitive excellence.
12:23 Together, we will serve to unite and bring pride
12:25 to this great Hawkeye community.
12:28 I want you all to know how excited
12:30 I am to write this next chapter here with you.
12:34 Let's go.
12:35 Together, we fight for Iowa.
12:37 Go Hawks.
12:38 [APPLAUSE]
12:46 Any questions for the women?
12:49 John?
12:51 John, as Deputy Cedar Appendix Gazette,
12:53 now you're the only woman to be an AD in the Big Ten.
12:58 What does that mean to you?
12:59 And what do you think is the key to really empowering more women
13:02 to be in a position like this?
13:04 Yeah, thanks for the question, John.
13:06 And I stand on the shoulders of so many,
13:10 and literally in the place where those that came before me
13:15 fought to be sure that these opportunities existed.
13:18 And I'm incredibly proud to be in that seat.
13:21 We have a second female AD, Jen Cohen, obviously, at UCLA--
13:28 sorry, at USC that will be joining us as well.
13:32 But I understand the responsibility, of course,
13:35 to have and be the individual that someone might look at
13:39 and say, hey, I can take that same path one day.
13:41 So incredibly honored and grateful for all
13:45 of those that have championed me through my career
13:48 and given me this opportunity.
13:52 Tom Kuechert, Hawkeye Report.
13:55 Beth, just looking around the room,
13:58 it's filled with female student athletes, student athletes
14:01 from every different sport.
14:04 What does that mean to you as a former student athlete yourself
14:07 that they're here to support you?
14:10 Yeah, not to jump ahead in the question,
14:11 but as soon as you said that, I'm thinking, I was you.
14:14 I know what that experience is like.
14:18 And believe me, even a few decades later when you're
14:21 my age, you're going to remember every single moment.
14:24 And it's certainly not about the wins and losses.
14:27 It's about the experience that you
14:29 get to have each and every day, the challenges that
14:32 are going to make you better, whether you know that right now
14:35 or not.
14:36 And it's just such an impactful moment.
14:40 It was in my life.
14:41 It is in yours.
14:42 And you just don't know how this is
14:44 going to transform the opportunities that you
14:46 have long after you take off your uniform.
14:50 So incredibly touching.
14:53 And to get to see these amazing young women do
14:57 what they do each and every day, to do it
14:58 with such character, class, and certainly
15:01 with such a high competitive spirit,
15:04 is really, really remarkable.
15:07 Chad Lysakow, Des Moines Register.
15:09 On October 30, you had to deliver an important decision,
15:13 probably your most, I guess, significant public decision
15:17 in dismissing Brian Ferentz's offensive coordinator.
15:19 In the three months since, how have you
15:21 seen that decision received by the fans, maybe
15:25 the administration you work with and for,
15:27 and also with football, which obviously
15:31 carries a huge relationship with what you do?
15:33 I think every decision we make is certainly an impactful one.
15:37 And some are more visible than others.
15:41 And any time you make a decision about someone
15:43 who has meant so much to this institution and to a program,
15:47 it's always going to be difficult.
15:49 But I think at the end of the day,
15:51 relationships and leadership is about building trust.
15:55 And you take the information that you have.
15:57 You make the best decision that you can
15:59 in the short and the long term.
16:01 You do that with your values in mind,
16:02 making sure you're taking into consideration all those that
16:06 are impacted.
16:07 And you go from there.
16:08 And I think over time, you continue
16:12 to develop that trust and that respect,
16:14 that even in moments where some may agree and some don't,
16:17 that they understand how you got to those decisions.
16:20 And you work hard to ensure that while you may not
16:23 agree on every account, that they
16:26 know that you support them, you care about them.
16:29 And certainly in the case of football,
16:31 how passionate I am about continuing
16:33 to support Coach Ferentz and that program moving forward.
16:39 Hi, Beth.
16:39 Hi, Mike.
16:40 Mike Halas of the Gazette.
16:41 Some of the coaches you mentioned, a lot of them
16:45 really are established, entrenched people
16:48 who've been here a decade, two decades.
16:50 As a new AD, how do you work with them?
16:55 How do you gain their trust?
16:56 And how do you move forward with them?
16:59 And it's probably a good question for you.
17:01 And you say, some that have been here for a while,
17:03 and now I see Fran out here, too.
17:05 And it's really a privilege to work with these professionals.
17:11 They know and love and are passionate about the Hawkeyes.
17:15 But they also are welcoming with open arms.
17:18 And so this is really a credit to all of them
17:21 who allowed me to come in to build relationships with them,
17:24 to learn about their programs, to partner with them.
17:29 And again, it's just a little bit
17:31 about learning how they like to operate,
17:33 how we can best support that, and making sure
17:35 that they know we're going to do that together.
17:37 This is a partnership.
17:39 Their success is our success.
17:42 And we're going to work as hard as they are each and every day
17:45 to help their programs reach their goals.
17:49 Hi, Scott Dockterman with The Athletic.
17:52 In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics,
17:54 in which life has changed probably more in the last five
17:56 years than the previous 50 or so, what kind of role
18:02 do you see the athletics department having with NIL,
18:05 with the collectives?
18:07 And is it going to be more of a partnership moving forward?
18:10 And how are you going to engage those entities that
18:12 are obviously key stakeholders to your student athletes?
18:16 Changing college athletics is an understatement.
18:18 Hopefully nothing's happened in the last 20 minutes
18:20 that we're not all aware of here.
18:23 But I think it's incredibly important
18:26 that we both honor our tradition at the University of Iowa,
18:30 but welcome and run to what that future is going to look like.
18:34 We can lead in that space.
18:36 We can say, hey, it's important to us
18:39 that we hear the voice of our student athletes,
18:41 that we recognize the value that they bring to the brand.
18:45 And whether that means increased NIL benefits,
18:49 increased benefits overall, obviously
18:51 there's a lot of moving pieces.
18:53 We don't know exactly how that's going to lay out.
18:55 But I think you're partnering with everybody around you,
18:58 certainly on our campus and in the Big Ten.
19:00 We've got a great relationship with the Swarm Collective
19:04 and within the parameters of the rules the NCAA has right now.
19:08 That's how NIL needs to operate.
19:10 But we're going to continue to evolve.
19:12 We want to be ambitious in that space.
19:14 We want to be creative and nimble.
19:16 And do all that while protecting what
19:18 is most sacred, which is making sure
19:21 that these student athletes are pursuing a degree.
19:23 They will leave here with a degree
19:25 from the University of Iowa, that they're supported,
19:27 their well-being is taken care of.
19:29 But everything else is going to modernize.
19:32 And we're going to be ready and prepared and nimble
19:35 enough to adjust to that.
19:38 Hey, Beth, Elliott Clough, Rivals.
19:40 Congrats.
19:42 So there's been a lot of talk in the fan base about updates
19:45 to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
19:47 Any concrete steps that are either being made now
19:51 or you're making headway towards currently?
19:55 It's been a wonderful facility for 40 years.
19:58 And what we need to do is ensure that it serves our needs
20:01 for the next few decades.
20:03 And that feasibility study started well over six months
20:07 ago.
20:08 And we're really excited about some of the opportunities
20:10 that we have within those updates
20:12 to consider changes that will directly
20:15 impact the student athlete experience, changes that
20:18 will impact the fan experience, and certainly
20:21 some other adjustments that will also
20:23 allow us to make sure that we are generating
20:25 revenue in a way that's going to help our entire department.
20:30 The timing on that, we are working through a financial
20:33 study as well.
20:34 So we're doing a little bit of a donor feasibility study.
20:37 But we're close to being able to have some focus groups,
20:40 get some more significant input.
20:43 But really excited about what opportunities do exist.
20:48 Again, we've got some celebrated wins
20:50 across many sports in this arena.
20:53 We want to make sure we position it
20:54 to collect a few more in the years to come.
20:59 Hey, Beth.
21:00 Tyler Taschman with the Des Moines Register.
21:02 This is a little bit more theoretical.
21:04 But when you have to go about the process of hiring a coach,
21:09 are there things that are non-negotiable for you
21:12 or characteristics that you look for during that process?
21:15 Absolutely.
21:16 And there's really nothing we do that's more important.
21:20 Because when we make a hire of a coach, a head coach
21:24 in particular, that's who's going
21:25 to be a mentor to all these young athletes
21:28 that you see around you right now.
21:30 So it's critical that we try to get that--
21:32 that we make that right decision and that we
21:34 don't miss on the things that are most important--
21:37 integrity, their commitment to the well-being of the students.
21:41 But from a big picture standpoint,
21:43 I think there's a lot of different things
21:44 that you look like.
21:45 You may have heard me say this before,
21:47 but I don't think that every leader is the right leader
21:50 for every different institution.
21:53 So I think you have to identify the four or the five things
21:55 that are specific to your needs at that moment of time
21:58 here at the University of Iowa.
22:01 And that's how you start your search.
22:02 And certainly, there's the need to be an expert in X's and O's,
22:06 to understand the recruiting landscape,
22:08 all of those other pieces.
22:10 But we want to find a package that
22:12 makes sense for who we are at the University of Iowa, who
22:14 shares our values, and is ambitious and excited to work
22:19 in partnership with our team, our institution,
22:23 to go chase championships.
22:26 Hi, Beth.
22:27 Owen Sebring with KGAN in the back here.
22:29 Congratulations, first off, of course.
22:31 Thank you.
22:32 So looking at the bigger picture,
22:33 we now have one of the few female athletic directors
22:36 in Power 5 schools.
22:37 We have the only Power 5 women's college wrestling program.
22:41 We have a student on campus who's probably
22:42 the most famous college athlete in America right now.
22:45 Does this bigger picture give a look
22:47 at the University of Iowa as a place
22:49 that wants to be kind of a trailblazer for women's
22:51 athletes, or maybe athletes in general right now?
22:54 I think you can look even broader than that.
22:56 To my right, as I look at President Barbara Wilson,
23:00 obviously, we've got leadership in our state as well.
23:04 But I think it does, and it always has.
23:06 And those that are in the room that
23:08 had the privilege to be here at the forefront of women's sports
23:12 here at the University of Iowa, they know what that means.
23:15 They've carried on that tradition,
23:17 and it's a great responsibility.
23:18 But if you are a young woman playing sports in this country,
23:22 and you are watching what these young women are doing,
23:25 not just what Caitlin Clark in women's basketball is doing,
23:27 but what field hockey is doing, this opportunity
23:30 to launch women's wrestling and soccer
23:33 and rowing and so many others, why not
23:35 come to the University of Iowa?
23:37 Because you're going to be embraced here.
23:38 You're going to have incredible opportunities in competition.
23:42 And we are going to support you.
23:43 The community is going to support you.
23:45 And again, it's all about giving them opportunities
23:48 to succeed while they're here, but really prepare them
23:50 for what comes next.
23:52 And we've got the tradition to do that, the history to do that,
23:55 and the track record.
23:57 So again, to answer your question,
23:59 yes, this is a destination for our young female athletes,
24:03 no doubt about it.
24:04 David Eichel, hawkeyeinsider.com.
24:06 Congratulations, Beth.
24:08 You talk about wanting to be the forefront of NIL
24:10 and try to be creative and all about empowering the student
24:13 athlete.
24:14 With that being said, I mean, how tough is it going to be for you
24:16 to kind of balance what's in the best interest of the student
24:18 athletes versus maybe what's best for the coaches
24:21 and even the athletic department?
24:22 How do you kind of go about balancing all of that
24:24 while trying to be the leader of all of it?
24:27 That's the question right there, right?
24:29 There are going to be challenging times.
24:31 But what we need to do is understand
24:33 what the parameters are, whether that is provided to us
24:37 via a lawsuit or by the federal government
24:40 or whatever entity that is through the NCAA rules.
24:44 We need to know what the landscape is.
24:45 And then we will put together the pieces of the puzzle
24:49 to ensure that we have our priorities in the right order.
24:53 There will be changes and significant changes.
24:56 And that will mean that we'll need to make different decisions
24:59 about where to invest.
25:00 There's never been a more important time
25:03 to understand where we can leverage our strengths.
25:07 And we'll have to do that across the department to be sure.
25:10 But when you do that in partnership with your coaches,
25:13 with your athletes, one, you come
25:16 to a more agreeable decision.
25:18 But we're also a part of getting to the right place.
25:21 And so even though we don't yet know what the outcome is,
25:24 we talk about this almost every day.
25:26 Every time we meet with our coach,
25:27 we conversationalize this with our entire staff.
25:31 And so we all know what's coming.
25:33 We're going to spend a lot of time
25:34 discussing what outcomes could be.
25:37 But at the end of the day, we will adjust
25:39 to what the environment is.
25:40 And again, with the foundation of ensuring we're protecting
25:46 their ability to get a degree, have a great experience,
25:49 and also live in a world where they can modernize and have
25:52 an opportunity to earn extra benefits.
25:56 Hey, Beth.
25:56 Chad, Leister Coe again.
25:58 Can you give us an update where things stand
26:00 with football's offensive coordinator hiring process?
26:03 And also, obviously, the cost of coordinators
26:06 seems to be going up across the country.
26:08 Phil Parker goes to $1.9 million.
26:11 Is Kirk operating in your mind in terms
26:13 of the constructs of his contract,
26:14 in terms of what money he has available for an OC?
26:16 Or is there some flexibility there
26:18 in what you can offer to him as an athletics department?
26:23 I feel really good about where the process is.
26:25 I know there are a lot of people anxious,
26:28 certainly, to hear what the final decision is
26:32 and who is going to be joining that team.
26:34 And I think all those puzzle pieces
26:36 are going to come together here in short order.
26:39 So I've worked very closely with Coach.
26:42 Certainly, we have a financial blueprint that we work through.
26:46 And then from there, we're evaluating
26:48 each and every current staff member and also those
26:52 that we may be considering for that role.
26:54 We also, as you know, have another position open as well.
26:58 So it's really a big picture.
27:00 We certainly recognize the escalating salaries
27:03 across the country and want to make sure
27:06 that we're great stewards of our resources
27:08 and want to do our best to also support our programs
27:11 and make sure we can continue to be competitive.
27:15 Hi, Beth.
27:15 Scott Dockterman, again, with The Athletic.
27:17 Wanted to ask you about this on a personal level.
27:20 I mean, you went from being a college athlete
27:23 to a Division II coach for 12 years to working your way up.
27:27 You've had some disappointments where
27:29 you're finished number two for a couple of spots.
27:32 But here you are at a major university, the Athletics
27:34 Director position.
27:36 What does this mean to you from a personal standpoint?
27:38 You know, I think when you're sitting in their seat,
27:47 in the seats of these student athletes,
27:50 and maybe even before they come--
27:52 before you get to college, you think
27:55 about what your path might be.
27:57 And one of the things I'm so grateful to my family for,
28:00 for the coaches that I've had, is really believing
28:03 that life is a journey.
28:05 I look back, and I've really learned more
28:08 from the disappointments or the mistakes you make on the field,
28:12 which I made quite a few.
28:14 Coach Tiani will probably tell you.
28:16 But those are the things that make you better.
28:19 And so you never know exactly where your path's going to go.
28:21 But at the end of the day, if you remain true to who you are,
28:25 you're going to land in a place where your values really align,
28:28 where you feel like you can contribute,
28:31 you can bring value to them, and they're going to make you
28:34 better.
28:34 And I feel like I found that at the University of Iowa.
28:38 You know, I really enjoyed the community.
28:40 I was in the people I was working with at Ball State.
28:44 And yet, when this opportunity came available,
28:47 and just admired the culture here for so long from afar,
28:52 I ran to that opportunity.
28:54 And to now have the ability and chance
28:57 to lead this program alongside so many great people
29:01 is just really special.
29:02 It's hard to process, candidly, that this
29:07 is the moment that you've been thinking about and planning
29:10 for and working towards.
29:12 But I'm just incredibly humbled and excited about what
29:15 the future lies ahead.
29:18 Hey, Beth.
29:19 Elliott Clough, Rivals.
29:21 Speaking of the OC position, I know in the fall
29:23 you had said that you were going to let
29:25 Kirk do his thing, that you wouldn't be very involved.
29:28 Has your involvement increased?
29:30 What does that look like currently?
29:32 With every coaching hire that we have,
29:34 our administration is always engaged.
29:36 And so just as we do on any topic,
29:39 we've continued to communicate regularly
29:42 and have conversations about the process
29:44 and about where it's going.
29:46 So again, I feel we heard Kirk lay out his process
29:51 before making this hire at the end of the bowl game.
29:55 And he's continued down that path
29:56 and certainly have been a partner in communication
30:00 and understanding how we are going to come
30:02 to making that final decision.
30:05 Hi, Beth.
30:05 Congratulations.
30:06 Shaq Lito with KCRG back here.
30:08 Beth, hi.
30:09 I'm curious, what is your relationship
30:11 with Tony Petitti like?
30:12 I'm curious where your role is or what
30:14 your role is in the ever-changing world
30:17 of the Big Ten expansion, combining
30:19 with a lot of extra stuff in streaming, television expansion.
30:25 And that ties in, of course, with the changing
30:27 landscape of college athletics, which
30:29 you've been talking about.
30:31 Well, it's been just an incredible pleasure
30:34 to get to engage with Tony Petitti
30:36 and get to know him over the last six months.
30:39 And he's obviously not been in his role long.
30:42 And the second he arrived, there were a lot of things
30:45 that were laid on his lap.
30:48 But we've had a chance to engage quite a bit.
30:51 He's an incredible communicator.
30:53 I know he talks with all of us regularly, certainly in person.
30:57 But he is always reaching out to make
30:59 sure we are connected on different issues
31:01 or different topics that are both national or specific
31:05 to our institution.
31:07 So I think he is exactly the right leader for the Big Ten.
31:11 And I'm thrilled we have him during this really dynamic time
31:14 and look forward to continuing to partner with him
31:16 as we move forward.
31:18 In terms of, again, the landscape,
31:20 the footprint of the Big Ten, we are the best conference
31:24 in the country.
31:25 We value the right things.
31:27 We have this great combination of national brands,
31:29 commitment to broad-based sports.
31:32 And we've got the talent across all of our sports teams.
31:35 That makes us the envy of so many.
31:38 And so we have a chance to work in partnership
31:40 with my colleagues at our Big Ten institutions,
31:44 including the four new members that will officially
31:47 be entering next year.
31:49 And I feel really good about our opportunities
31:51 to chart a path forward that protects this great conference
31:54 and protects our institutions and positions
31:57 as well in the future.
32:00 Now that you don't have the interim tag,
32:02 is there anything different that you're able to do
32:04 or able to focus on or different goals that you have now
32:07 that you're here for the long term?
32:09 Yeah, I don't know about different.
32:11 I think when I had the opportunity,
32:12 when President Wilson offered me the opportunity
32:14 to serve in the interim role, she said, please go do the job.
32:19 And so we did that and continued to make
32:22 sure we were making the decisions that we thought
32:24 were important to move the department forward.
32:27 Some of the items that we didn't tackle
32:29 were those that we thought might be disruptive until we had
32:32 a permanent leader in place.
32:34 So there are some things that we are now looking to do.
32:36 Obviously, we'll have some staff openings
32:39 and really move forward that way.
32:41 And really, this next six months to a year
32:44 from a national standpoint is going
32:46 to be incredibly important.
32:48 So being able to truly identify what we want to do,
32:52 identify who we are, what our bold vision is,
32:55 and how that connects to that moving landscape
32:57 is going to be critical.
32:59 So we're excited to move forward.
33:00 But we've had the support to continue
33:03 to make sure we were doing what we needed to do
33:05 to be successful and just anxious to keep
33:08 doing that alongside this great team going forward.
33:10 What sort of staff openings do you mean also?
33:12 That'd be the ADM, assuming you're not
33:14 going to be in that office.
33:15 Well, I don't know that I can navigate two jobs.
33:18 So we will look to fill that position.
33:22 It may look a little bit different.
33:24 And while we're not going to delay too long,
33:26 I do want to make sure that we hire to where we're going.
33:29 So more information is going to continue
33:31 in the next couple of months.
33:33 I think that position likely will have an external feel to it.
33:36 But we're excited about the opportunities
33:39 and the type of candidates that we know the University of Iowa
33:41 will attract.
33:43 So that certainly will be a priority.
33:44 We're not going to do that tomorrow.
33:46 But we want to make sure we have somebody that
33:48 can come in and serve in the environment that's
33:50 going to be most impactful to our department.
33:53 We'll take three more questions.
33:54 Start with Scott.
33:55 Yeah, Beth, as far as priorities,
33:58 they almost always-- or they should
34:00 start with student athletes.
34:01 But beyond the athletes themselves,
34:04 is there something that you put at the very top,
34:06 whether it's the facilities, financial,
34:10 is there anything you consider a priority that kind of works
34:14 with your vision at this point?
34:16 I don't know about a number one and number two, Scott,
34:19 in terms of ranking.
34:20 Because we all have to do everything at one time.
34:23 But the areas that I think are incredibly important
34:26 is to continue from a financial standpoint
34:28 to ensure we're using our resources where
34:30 we can get our most impact.
34:33 And so we're looking forward to really evaluating
34:35 in that way from a financial side,
34:38 focusing on continued revenue generation across the board,
34:42 engagement with donors, and all of that
34:45 sort of leads into some of these facility renovations
34:47 and those types of things.
34:49 One of the other things I'm really passionate about,
34:51 and I think an overview of how we analyze our information,
34:55 analyze data, will help us do is to be really intentional
34:57 about how our success connects to the mission
35:00 and the institution.
35:01 And I think there's great opportunity there.
35:03 And we're looking forward to exploring
35:06 that as time goes on.
35:09 So those two things are really important.
35:11 In addition, again, front of mind for everybody
35:14 is going to be the changing landscape.
35:16 And so even though we know there are a couple of different paths,
35:19 actually modeling that so we're not responsive, I think,
35:22 is a critical piece.
35:23 And so we're in that work now.
35:25 And we'll continue to do that in the coming months.
35:29 Chad Laisdakogia, have you moved into the big office yet?
35:33 No, not yet.
35:33 Not quite.
35:34 OK.
35:36 Longevity-wise, you go from--
35:37 this program's gone from Bump Elliott, Christine Grant,
35:41 Bob Bowlesby, Gary Barrett, a long time at ADs.
35:44 I guess just now that you're in that permanent role,
35:47 do you view this as a destination job
35:50 for yourself personally?
35:52 Absolutely.
35:53 Absolutely.
35:55 The days of people being positions for 20 years
35:59 may have passed us by.
36:00 But there is no place else I would be better suited for
36:07 and be more passionate about than to continue to lead here
36:10 at the University of Iowa.
36:13 As you all already know, I'm a Midwest kid.
36:17 I'm from this community.
36:19 It's felt like home from the moment that I came.
36:22 I feel like we collectively have the best team in the country.
36:26 Again, these just amazing coaches,
36:29 incredible student athletes in the sport across campus.
36:32 And I don't know what else you would look for that's
36:34 beyond these walls.
36:36 And so I'm excited about my tenure here
36:39 and certainly look forward to staying as long as President
36:42 Wilson will have me.
36:43 Finish up with Mike and then Tyler.
36:47 Beth, hi.
36:48 You played college sports and you coached college sports.
36:54 What do you know about both?
36:57 I played a long time ago, Mike, and it's starting to be
37:03 a long time since I coached.
37:05 But that experience stays with you.
37:09 And even though soccer was my sport,
37:12 doesn't mean that I understand that game the way
37:14 it's played now.
37:16 It doesn't mean I understand exactly how our basketball
37:19 staff or our wrestling staff has to navigate the recruiting
37:22 landscape because I coached before.
37:26 But what I think it does do is it
37:27 allows me to sit in their shoes, to have empathy,
37:31 to understand how they experience what they go
37:34 through each and every day.
37:36 And I use that, I think, as I build relationships with them.
37:40 I understand the pressures.
37:41 I understand the success they feel.
37:43 I understand the disappointments.
37:46 And so those are moments that you take with you, I think,
37:50 into every experience that you have.
37:52 And for me, those have been an asset.
37:54 I hope our staff and coaches feel like that is helpful.
37:58 But that experience of actually being in those shoes of--
38:03 as an athlete and as a coach, it gives you a completely
38:07 different perspective, I think.
38:09 And I don't think it's necessary to have done those things,
38:13 to be a great administrator.
38:15 But I do think it can be an advantage in making sure
38:18 you're providing the right kind of support when it's needed.
38:22 Tyler.
38:23 Tyler Taschman with the Des Moines Register.
38:25 You mentioned at Carver, potentially,
38:28 the updates, making it a better environment for student
38:32 athletes and fans.
38:34 Are there any specific ideas you have now that could potentially
38:39 look like?
38:40 Some conceptual thoughts, right?
38:42 And that's why we worked with an architect,
38:44 and just to see what might be possible, where it'll land.
38:49 Again, that's why we're in the feasibility study.
38:51 It's hard to tell.
38:52 But I do think we need increased premium spaces for fans
38:56 to have an opportunity to enjoy a game the way that people are
39:00 now used to doing that, so where they can visually see that
39:04 and have access to different amenities.
39:06 Lots of conversation, I know, from our students
39:08 about the environment that they may
39:10 be able to create in and around the floor is really important.
39:14 And there's a lot of amenities that we just
39:16 need to update as we look at what that'll be in 20 years.
39:21 So we're excited about what we've seen so far.
39:24 We are anxious to start to make that a little bit more public.
39:28 But we don't want to show anybody
39:29 the car they can't afford.
39:30 So we want to narrow that down, make sure
39:33 that what we think is important does resonate,
39:36 and that we're on the right track with all
39:38 of those constituencies before we really
39:41 decide to shop that around.
39:43 OK.
39:43 Thank you, Beth.
39:44 Thank you, everyone, for coming.
39:45 [APPLAUSE]
39:48 Student athletes, if you wanted to get your picture with Beth,
40:11 come up to the front.
40:11 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
40:15,
40:38 Sorry, I didn't know where to go.
40:40 I'm scared.
40:40 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
40:44 I think my intern took it downstairs.
40:46 Are you leaving right now?
40:47 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
40:51,
41:16 Perfect.
41:16 Thank you.
41:17 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
41:20 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
41:24 Woo!
41:25 [SIDE CONVERSATION]
41:28 [BLANK_AUDIO]