CLEVELAND — Ten hours before the Iowa State women's basketball team faced UConn in the NCAA Final Four, new athletics director Beth Goetz was helping develop the next generation of women's basketball coaches.
Goetz, 49, served on a committee that provided advice to newly hired coaches. She once held that position as a young soccer coach after graduating from Clemson University. This is her way of giving back. But that didn't distract her from what would happen Friday night: a 71-69 win for the University of Iowa against Union University.
In one of the most influential eras in college sports, Goetz has a three-pronged problem. Locally, he has the day-to-day responsibility of managing the athletics department, which generated $167.4 million in fiscal year 2023. The birth of a new Big Ten is on the horizon, including four new universities and myriad logistical challenges. Finally, at the national level there are existential questions about pay for play.
In an interview with Goetz, The Athletic, which preceded her panel discussion, where most of the topics were related to Iowa State athletics. Our conversation is divided into two parts. The first article covers women's basketball, men's basketball, and Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The second part will run later this week and will revolve around football and broader topics.
The women's basketball team finished second in the nation for the second consecutive season. The Hawkeyes sold out 37 of 39 games, including all home games last August. Caitlin Clark was twice the consensus national player of the year and seemed to set major records in every game. Her influence on national television ratings for local audiences changed women's sports in this country. She is scheduled to enter the WNBA Draft next week and will undoubtedly be the top pick.
The popularity of women's basketball in Iowa is extraordinary. Have you ever seen something like that?
Goetz: “Today is not this moment. Obviously, I spent some time at UConn (as senior women's administrator from 2016 to 2018). They were in the midst of a 100-game undefeated streak and back-to-back national championships. . Sure, there was a lot of excitement…but this moment is different.
“I think it's because we have multiple stars in the game and we get a lot of media attention. And Caitlin Clark, who has generational talent and personality and a passion and passion that captivates[audiences]. Even if there was one more person, we couldn't do it.'' See it before. Probably because it was before social media and all that stuff. So the impact this has on Iowa specifically is unreal. ”
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The next step is to capture that enthusiasm and maintain it.
Goetz: “I think what Lisa (Bruder) did really well was highlight what makes the game great. Aside from (Clarke) and her great play, women's basketball is where it is right now. They're being played at a really, really high level. I think that's what people who are interested are drawn to. They have a lot of talented athletes, they make incredible passes, they're more athletic than ever. I think the (Iowa) team has done a really great job of showing that. So the level of play is increasing, the attention is increasing, so it's not just about one athlete. I think that's something that Caitlin can definitely be proud of the legacy that she leaves behind.
“Our job is to make sure we capture what we just described, get that message across clearly to the fans, market that to the fans, continue to sell tickets at a very high level and be able to attract people to the games. I think it's different this time. I think it's a different time nationally. Will tickets on the secondary market sell for thousands of dollars? Maybe not. But we… It’s going to be an exciting team to watch, and I think we’ve brought in some fans who want to continue to be a part of it.”
Behind the Iowa women's basketball phenomenon is the situation facing the men's basketball program. On the surface, it looks like a healthy situation. The Hawkeyes qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight year, but were eliminated in the NIT during a rebuilding year. Iowa State has two-time National Player of the Year Luka Garza (2020-21) and Keegan Murray, a first-team All-American and NBA lottery pick (2022), NBA No. There was Chris Murray (2023), who was acquired as a first-round pick. . In the highly competitive Big Ten, Iowa State has only had one losing season since 2012.
But there are also problems. Iowa State averaged 9,981 tickets sold for its 17 home games, the second lowest number for the program since at least the 1970s. The men, who were once the talk of the state, have largely gone unnoticed this year. Fran McCaffery is the winningest coach in program history, but many fans are fed up with the program's lack of success in the NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes, once a Sweet 16 staple, haven't played in the second NCAA weekend since 1999.
Two starters, including his son Patrick McCaffery, have entered the transfer portal, and star perimeter shooter Peyton Sandfort has declared for the NBA Draft, although he could return. At best, there is uncertainty about the long-term future.
Goetz: “Men's basketball is a top priority for us and always has been. But one thing I can say is that this is going to be a big priority from a program standpoint to make sure we provide the level of support that we need. So that's an area that we continue to focus on right now in terms of what we can do from a management perspective.
“Obviously, there have been a lot of conversations about students and how we engage with them. So as a university, we need to be creative and try new things and engage with our students and fans. Part of me thinks we need to work together and really understand what they need and what's important to them. I know there are some factors out of their control, but the TV That doesn't mean there might not be things we can do to address them, like schedules and parking and all the other factors. So how do we take that information and make sure we're putting things in place that are helpful? Is it?”
Goetz said men's basketball season ticket sales are down slightly and he wants to get answers from fans in an offseason survey about the program.
Goetz: “Certainly, there may be some disappointment and concern about not being able to make it to the tournament. So we're not denying that part. But some of the same guys… could have jumped on the women's bandwagon, and that's great. Where are they from? Have they made multiple trips to Iowa City? It's a little different than the football you're supposed to attend every week. . Whenever you're doing that, you really want to dive in and understand the data, but also want to talk to the fans.”
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Can Iowa men's basketball bounce back from the brink of indifference?
Goetz said concerns about the transfer portal are mitigated by the situation. As of Monday, 13 of his Big Ten men's basketball teams, including Iowa State, had at least three of his players in the portal, according to On3.
Goetz: “We want all our programs, and of course men's basketball, to compete at the highest level, but we recognize that there's probably a little bit more apathy than there has been in the past. So, coaches With that, we're not going to just let it go. The question is, how do we dig deep and understand what exactly is the concern? And how can we address this problem? , can you ensure that you are positioning yourself for continued success?
“In my opinion, it was a very good coaching job. We had a really young group. Sure, you want to accomplish more, but you still don't have an NBA pick for the third year in a row. It's coming off a great year that we missed, and that's really impressive. I think the last few games for the team have been tough, but I think we've seen a lot of improvement and development. They've started playing together, And we have some really talented young athletes. Again, we're not going to butt heads. We hear that from our fans. We understand their concerns and we're going to respond to them. I will try my best to do so.”
A constant complaint among Iowa State fans concerns Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It was a sold-out season for women's basketball and wrestling, which continues to be a raucous environment. Complaints abound, from the lack of a mid-level concourse to food options, restrooms on lower floors, and students not sitting near the courts. The department recently conducted a feasibility study to explore ideas for future renovations.
Goetz: “I don't see how you can have a facility that's great for two sports and not the other. So I don't know if it's a facility issue. It's 40 years old. 40 years. Even after all this time, we all need love. We certainly know that. Certainly, it was designed in a slightly different era, and I think it's an important facility project for us. Armament. I don't mean it as a competition. It's not that I don't want it to be beautiful, and it's certainly one of the best in the Big 10. But this isn't about chasing that. This is how we ensure we have facilities that best serve our fans, student-athletes, and students.
“A piece of the puzzle is finding more toilets at court level. In addition, part of the concept is to have a premium club space in the main stand. In reality, there is one more elevator stop to that floor. , there are restrooms within the club and all those who have access to the club congregate there in that seating area.”
There are hurdles to getting students closer to the floor. Donors often occupy many of the best seats in the arena.
Goetz: “You want to serve your long-time donors and supporters. You want the arena to look cool, you want to create an environment. But just because you put the student section at the bottom doesn't mean the students aren't visible. That's why you have to work hard and hear from everyone and decide what their concerns are. So if you move them down, they feel like they can't get here easily. Well, it probably won't change much.
“It's a necessary project. It impacts multiple sports. At the end of the day, I think if we can generate the philanthropic support to move it forward, it's really going to help all these people.” Masu.”
(Top photo: Lily Smith / The Register-USA Today)