Hawkeyes Finalize Coaching Staff

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Head coach Dean Ward announced the hiring of two staff members on Monday. Meghan Gill has been named an assistant coach, while former Hawkeye Josie Durr will serve as director of soccer operations.

“We are delighted to add Meghan to our coaching staff,” said Ward. “I have known Meghan for a while in various capacities and locations. She brings experience and expertise in all aspects of the role, and she also has experience in the Big Ten from her time at Penn State as a student-athlete.”

Gill recently completed her third season as associate head coach for the Richmond women’s soccer team. In 2025, the Spiders finished second in the conference in save percentage (.841) while posting six shutouts. She arrived at Richmond from Davidson, where she served as the team’s recruiting coordinator for two seasons. During her tenure, Davidson appeared in the 2021 Atlantic 10 Championship match.

Gill also gained head coaching experience at Davis & Elkins College, where she guided the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016 after winning the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament title. She also spent four seasons at Columbia (Mo.) College, working with both the men’s and women’s soccer programs. Gill played a key role in launching the women’s program in 2012, helping the team to 55 wins, three AMC regular-season titles, two tournament championships, and three NAIA national tournament appearances.

“I am truly honored to join the University of Iowa women’s soccer program,” said Gill. “From the moment I stepped on campus, I felt the tremendous sense of community and support surrounding both the team and the university as a whole. I look forward to working alongside head coach Dean Ward and the entire coaching staff to build strong relationships with our players and foster their individual growth and collective success. Together, I am excited to grow the tradition of excellence and help advance the Iowa women’s soccer program within the Big Ten Conference and on the national stage.”

In 2015, Gill was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s prestigious 30 Under 30 program for rising coaches in the profession. As a player, Gill was a standout midfielder and defender at Penn State, where she appeared in 42 games and helped the Nittany Lions to five straight Big Ten regular-season titles. She was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2008.

Gill holds a United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma and a U.S. Soccer Federation B License. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Penn State in 2011 and later completed an MBA from Columbia College in 2013.

Durr joins the Iowa staff as director of operations after playing for the Hawkeyes across six seasons (2017–22). During her career, she was part of the team that captured the program’s first Big Ten Tournament championship in 2020 and helped Iowa reach back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in program history (2019 and 2020).

“Josie is no stranger to Iowa City and the women’s soccer program, having played here as a Hawkeye”, said Durr. “That recent experience is invaluable in helping our current team navigate the rigorous of college soccer. Josie will bring an understanding of what is needed for our team to be successful, which is ideal for her operations position.”

Durr appeared in 88 career games, making 65 starts. She finished with 12 career goals, four assists, 28 points, six game-winning goals, and logged 5,831 minutes.

“The University of Iowa and Iowa soccer have played such an important role in my life,” said Durr. “From competing as a student-athlete to now having the opportunity to support the program in a new way, it means a lot to stay part of a place that has given me so much. I’m especially excited to help continue building on the growth and momentum the program has experienced in recent years. Being able to contribute behind the scenes and support the student-athletes, coaches, and staff as the program continues to move forward is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”

Durr most recently served as a competition manager for the Arizona Soccer Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and exercise science with a minor in sport and recreation management from the University of Iowa in 2023.

“I could not be happier with our well-rounded staff,” said Ward. “They all bring different qualities, experiences, and perspectives to our team and program. The passion, drive, and determination they possess will help our program and student-athletes reach their potential. Most importantly, Noah, Kelly, Meghan, and Josie are all good people who will represent our program and university to the highest standards.”