After a historic 2025-26 athletics season, the Hawkeyes are extending Goetz's contract through January 2032. It feels like the best is yet to come in Iowa City.
Beth Goetz is in Iowa City for the long haul.
The Hawkeyes have been one of the nation's most successful all-around athletic programs since she took over from Gary Barta in January 2024, and University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson is rewarding Goetz for it.
UI announced on Thursday morning that it had signed Goetz to a new contract extension that runs through January 2032 and includes a hefty pay raise. Goetz's original deal ran through January 2029 and paid her a base salary of $850,000, but per The Des Moines Register, that base salary will increase to $1.4 million effective Sept. 1, 2026.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the Hawkeyes and our student-athletes, and thankful to President Wilson and our leadership for their trust,” Goetz said in a press release. “I’m fortunate to be surrounded by coaches and staff who care deeply about Iowa and a fan base that makes this place so special. We are proud of the tradition we carry forward, excited about where we are headed, and I truly believe our best days are ahead.”
Remember, that's just the base salary. There are bonuses mixed into the contract as well, and if the Hawkeyes post a 2026-27 season that comes anywhere close to mirroring 2025-26, Goetz's wallet will be flowing with extra cash.
2026 was highlighted by an improbable Elite Eight run from the men's basketball team that earned head coach Ben McCollum a contract extension of his own, but Iowa also earned four NCAA individual national championships, three Big Ten titles, and featured nine programs ranked in the final top 25 polls. The department also reported a record $103.7 million in athletic fundraising.
The Hawkeyes were also one of only two schools in the nation to win a bowl game and finish ranked in the top 20 of the final football, men's basketball, and women's basketball polls.
This all-around success resulted in Iowa posting impressive numbers in the Learfield Director's Cup, which honors Division I programs for their success in NCAA championship competition. The Hawkeyes recorded a program-best 662 points and placed 37th in the country.
Iowa Is Just Scratching The Surface
The last line of Goetz's statement aligns perfectly with our overall thoughts on this - Iowa's best days in its storied history are right around the corner, and all because of Goetz's leadership.
The Hawkeyes weren't a bad athletic department under Barta, but things had really grown stale by the end of his 17-year run in charge. Iowa was doing well financially, but a controversial contract extension to then-men's basketball head coach Fran McCaffery and an unwillingness to adapt to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) made him unpopular with Iowa fans.
Goetz joined Iowa as deputy athletic director in 2022 before being promoted to interim athletic director after Barta's 2023 retirement. She then earned the full-time job in January 2024.
It felt like a natural fit for both parties the second Goetz took charge. She fired then-Iowa football offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz for his poor performance in October 2023 and didn't waste time removing McCaffery after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.
Goetz's decision to hire McCollum appears to be the correct one, and the men's basketball program has seen a new wave of fan interest both before and after the Elite Eight appearance. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is also on the verge of a much-needed massive renovation, which is possible because of Goetz securing privately funded donations for the project.
Iowa is in pretty good shape right now, but it feels like this is only the beginning of a new golden age of success for Hawkeye athletics.
Having Goetz for the long haul is only going to help make that come to fruition.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
