Beth Goetz named Iowa’s interim AD after Gary Barta’s retirement

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa has tabbed Beth Goetz to serve as interim athletics director following Gary Barta’s retirement on Aug. 1, the UI announced Thursday.

Goetz, who joined Iowa Athletics last year as deputy athletics director, has a wide range of experience in collegiate athletics — including as a former AD, coach and athlete.

“Beth is a talented and respected leader not only at Iowa, but also at the national level in college athletics,” UI President Barbara Wilson said in a news release. “I am grateful she has agreed to lead this crucial part of our university, and I am confident she will generate a lot of excitement and forward momentum for our student-athletes, coaches, athletics staff and Hawkeye fans.”

A national search for a permanent AD is “planned” for early 2024, according to the news release, essentially giving Goetz a five-plus-month trial run in the new position before considering outside candidates.

This will not be Goetz’s first time as an interim athletics director. When Minnesota fired Norwood Teague amid sexual harassment allegations in 2015, she stepped up as interim AD for the 2015-16 season.

She also was the permanent AD at Ball State from 2018-22 and had high-level roles in UConn, Minnesota and Butler’s departments since 2008.

Goetz was the vice chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee in 2021-22 and was on the NCAA Competition Oversight Committee in 2018.

The 48-year-old administrator has quickly gained respect in her first year on Elliott Drive as the No. 2 person in the department behind Barta.

“She is a straight shooter,” head men’s wrestling coach Tom Brands said last month. “You could tell the genuineness, trust right away.”

Barta’s retirement date — Aug. 1 — is exactly 17 years after his official start date of Aug. 1, 2006. The soon-to-be-departing AD said in a statement last week the decision did not “come without significant thought, discussion, and prayer.” His contract was set to expire in June 2024.

Goetz’s promotion is subject to approval by the Board of Regents. Her base salary will increase from $310,000 to $650,000 when she takes on the new role in August, according to her contract obtained by The Gazette via a public records request.

“The Hawkeyes have a proud and storied tradition with the greatest fan base in the country, and I am appreciative of the opportunity to lead the department,” Goetz said in the news release. “I am committed to supporting our talented coaches, staff and student-athletes as we build on the positive trajectory of athletic and academic excellence.”

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