IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Joey Woody has received a contract extension through June 2027. The announcement was made Friday by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta.
Woody, an Iowa City native and World Champion, is in his ninth season at the helm of Iowa track and field. He is a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and a six-time USTFCCCA Regional Coach of the Year.
"We have accomplished a lot of great things these last 17 years, but I believe the best is yet to come," Woody said. "It’s never been a better time to be a Hawkeye Track and Field and Cross Country athlete. I can’t wait to get the season started and continue to compete for championship trophies for both men and women.”
Prior to accepting the head coaching position in 2014, Woody served as the associate head track and field coach for two seasons. He was assistant coach and director of sprint and hurdle events for the Hawkeyes from 2006-12.
Since arriving on campus, Woody has led Iowa to 49 Big Ten individual titles, 12 conference relay titles, four men’s Big Ten team titles, four Big Ten Athletes of the Year, and 199 All-America honors.
“I would like to thank President Wilson for her amazing support of Iowa Athletics and everything she does to help our men’s and women’s programs be successful academically and athletically,” Woody said. “I also want to thank Gary Barta for his leadership and support of our teams and for trusting me to continue to lead this program into the future. I’m forever grateful to Coach Wieczorek for taking a chance on hiring me as a young coach in 2006 while I was finishing up my own professional career. He gave me an unbelievable opportunity to recruit and develop young student-athletes and allow me to fulfill a dream of coaching at the Division I level. I want to thank Associate Athletic Director Eddie Etsey for his support and leadership of our staff and student-athletes. I want to thank Deputy Director Barbara Burke and now Beth Goetz for their ongoing commitment to our program, and especially their focused efforts to provide great opportunities for our women’s teams. “I’ve been blessed to have had amazing coaches and support staff who have been the backbone of our program’s success. Woody said. Our accomplishments on and off the track wouldn’t be possible without the tireless commitment and ongoing efforts of our staff to become the best in the country.
“I want to thank my wife Heather, my son Drake and daughter Isabelle, and my entire family for their unwavering love and support throughout my entire career as an athlete and coach. They have all had to sacrifice a ton, and I am forever thankful for what they do on a daily basis to allow me to live out my dreams and impact young student-athletes to accomplish their dreams. I couldn’t do this without them.”
The Hawkeyes kickoff the 2022-23 track and field season on Saturday, Dec. 10 as they host the Jimmy Grant Invitational. Events begin at 11 a.m. CT and will be live streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).
