Iowa’s baseball investment pays dividends

IOWA CITY - Fred Mims sat in the bleachers watching the Big Ten baseball tournament a number of years ago and overheard a conversation among the league's players. What they said both bothered and resonated with the Iowa associate athletics director.

'I heard them talk about the league and the teams they played against, and they didn't think very highly of the University of Iowa,” said Mims, a former Iowa player who oversees the program. 'That was a motivating point for me as well in changing that attitude of what Iowa is all about.”

With only five winning seasons from 1991 through 2013, Iowa opted for a change two years ago. The Hawkeyes hired Eldon, Iowa native Rick Heller, who had taken programs at Upper Iowa, Northern Iowa and then Indiana State to national tournaments. But Iowa also chose to invest in a long-neglected program which long had languished near the Big Ten's bottom in facilities.

Before Heller was hired, Northwestern was the only Big Ten school with a more outdated facility. From 2002 through 2013, seven Big Ten baseball teams spent a minimum of $4 million on new or refurbished stadiums. Iowa had no designated indoor facility and its playing surface often was unplayable with early-season weather conditions.

So when Iowa declined to renew former coach Jack Dahm's contract, questions swirled about the program. Mims said dropping baseball 'never entered anybody's mind” but fans, coaches and observers questioned Iowa's commitment. In order to compete in the Big Ten, baseball needed a big investment.

'We knew we needed to shore some things up,” Mims said. 'We knew we had to get a product out there that could make the state proud that we've got a baseball program because Iowa State and UNI had dropped their programs. There was no thought of us dropping baseball at Iowa.”

'When I interviewed, Gary just let me know that they were going to support us and wanted to see the baseball program successful,” Heller said. 'I was going to be given the opportunity with help from our foundation people to go out and raise money for improvements to the field.”

In two years, the baseball program secured $1.3 million in donations, which has produced two renovations. Last year, the program spent $400,000 to replace the backstop and install an AstroTurf infield. This year, the $2 million renovations include a new scoreboard, fence, AstroTurf outfield and other amenities. In fiscal year 2013, Iowa registered the second-fewest baseball expenses of any Big Ten school, according to documents obtained by The Gazette. In fiscal year 2014, Iowa's baseball expenses jumped by nearly $600,000 and ranked sixth in spending.

Permanent batting cages were installed in the old football building, and the team shares a new $15 million recreation building with the marching band and softball team for indoor practices. Landscaping and other cosmetic upgrades will be completed after season's end.

This year's results are commensurate with the investment. Iowa (27-11) is one-half game behind Illinois in the Big Ten baseball race. The Hawkeyes are on pace to win 30 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1989-90. A program that historically underachieved - even with northern weather - quickly has exceeded expectations.

'I really felt like with the support from the administration that we could definitely be very competitive,” Heller said. 'The league is very competitive, too, with 13 teams. It's not easy. It's a big conference where everybody is trying to win now in baseball. It's not like it's easy, but I felt like we could do a good job of keeping the good players in state at Iowa and the Midwest. With Wisconsin not having baseball, that gives you a place to go.

'Not knowing the situation when you're an outsider, you really don't know what's going on from within the school or the program. But just as a baseball guy, I felt like we could be successful here for sure.”

Fans have responded, too. Last weekend's series with Northwestern netted nearly 1,600 on Friday and 2,000 for Saturday. Media requests for this weekend's series against Nebraska exceed the space in the press box.

For most associated with Iowa baseball, that's a good problem to have.

'Last Friday night was a good example of what baseball does,” Mims said. 'It was warm, a perfect evening for a baseball game. The crowd was overflowing, kids were running around really enjoying the atmosphere. It was refreshing to see that happen.”

'I felt all along that if we put a good product on the field, and we some made improvements to the stadium, I knew that the Hawk fans would come out,” Heller said. 'Hawk fans are awesome. They're going to support us if you do well and you give them a reason to come out, and we're trying to do a good job.”

There's also the potential for tearing down the grandstand and building a new stadium around the current field in the next five-to-10 years. But on the field, it's about winning. The only time Iowa qualified for the College World Series was 1972, and Mims was a first-team all-Big Ten outfielder on that team.

'I keep telling the current kids each year, we've got to get another team to go back,” Mims said. 'I don't want to be a part of the only team that went to the College World Series. I hope they can do some things and get back there.”

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com