Iowa to hire former Colorado State AD Joe Parker as its next deputy AD, chief operating officer

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa has hired former Colorado State athletics director Joe Parker as its next deputy athletics director and chief operating officer, the university announced Tuesday evening.

“Joe will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team and the Iowa community,” Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz said in a statement. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that I know will have a positive impact on our coaches, staff and student-athletes.”

Parker spent nine seasons as the AD at Colorado State before stepping down earlier in 2024. Colorado State President Amy Parsons said in a statement at the time that “navigating the rapidly changing landscape will require a new style of leadership.”

Highlights of Parker’s tenure at Colorado State include construction of a new football stadium and an additional $22 million worth of facility upgrades. However, the Rams experienced six consecutive losing football seasons with three different head coaches under Parker’s watch.

"I am thrilled to join Beth Goetz's leadership team and the Iowa Athletics family,“ Parker said in a statement. ”UI has always been a place where institutional values are clear and embraced by everyone who appreciates the university’s mission. As a member of the Big Ten Conference, Hawkeye Athletics is incredibly well-positioned to build successful strategies to meet the opportunities and challenges facing college sports.“

Before his time at Colorado State, Parker was the deputy AD at Texas Tech from 2011-15. The Michigan alum worked as associate athletics director for development (and later senior associate athletics director for development) at his alma mater from 2003-11. He also had stints at Texas, Washington State and Oklahoma.

Parker fills the position that opened when Iowa promoted Goetz from deputy AD to interim AD and later permanent AD. Other former ADs to occupy the deputy AD/COO role include Barbara Burke and Gene Taylor.

This position is in addition to Iowa’s other deputy AD role, which longtime administrator Matt Henderson has occupied since 2021.

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