IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Nine head coaches of University of Iowa intercollegiate athletic programs have received contract extensions. The announcement was made Monday by Gary Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair.
Head coaches in the sports of men’s basketball (Fran McCaffery), wrestling (Tom Brands), baseball (Rick Heller), women’s soccer (Dave DiIanni), women’s basketball (Lisa Bluder), women’s golf (Megan Menzel), softball (Renee Gillispie), field hockey (Lisa Cellucci) and women’s tennis (Sasha Schmid) had their contracts extended. A number of assistant coaches in several sports also received contract extensions.
“It is with great pleasure that we are able to reward our head coaches in these sports with contract extensions and adjustments,” said Barta. “I am proud of our coaches, staff and student-athletes for their successes in competition, but just as importantly for the professionalism displayed in going about their business, both athletically and academically, throughout a very difficult time due to COVID-19.”
The overall success of Iowa athletics in 2020-21 included six Big Ten Conference championships, the NCAA national championship in wrestling and an NCAA Final Four appearance by Field Hockey. Hawkeye teams won Big Ten titles in soccer (postseason), women’s gymnastics (regular season), wrestling (regular season and postseason), and men’s track and field in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Iowa’s final ranking in the Learfield IMG College Director’s Cup (30th) marks its highest finish in the overall sports standings since 1997.
Overall, six Hawkeye head coaches earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors, six Hawkeyes were named conference Player/Athlete of the Year, and three Hawkeyes earned Freshman of the Year honors. Sixteen of Iowa’s 24 sports programs advanced to postseason competition (team or individuals).
Tom Brands | Wrestling
Brands was named Big Ten Conference and NWCA National Coach of the Year in 2021 after leading the Hawkeyes to Big Ten and NCAA Championships. Brands has won four NCAA and six Big Ten titles in 15 seasons, crowing 13 national champions, 24 conference champions and 89 All-Americans. In 2020, a school record 17 Hawkeyes earned Academic All-Bing Ten honors. Brands and the Hawkeyes return 10 All-Americans to defend Iowa’s conference and national titles in 2022. The Hawkeyes have led the country in attendance in each of Brands’ 15 seasons and Iowa’s fan support has been critical in raising funds to construct a new training facility adjacent to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Brands’ contract now runs through June of 2028.
Original Source: Iowa Athletics
