Garbutt, Mundt Receive Contract Extensions

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa rowing head coach Jeff Garbutt and swimming & diving head coach Nathan Mundt each received a contract extension through 2029, the announcement was made Wednesday by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Beth Goetz. 

Mundt completed his fifth season as head coach of Iowa’s women’s swimming and diving program. He was named the seventh head coach in program history in May 2021. It is Mundt’s second stint with the Hawkeyes, previously serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2008-16.

In 2025-26, Iowa recorded five victories under Mundt’s direction. The Hawkeyes recorded wins over UNI, Illinois, Iowa State, Nebraska and St. Thomas. The victory at Iowa State was the program’s third in a row over the Cyclones. Iowa placed third at the Hawkeye Invitational, scoring 1,059 points and crowning two champions and was 12th at the Big Ten Championships.

The Hawkeyes combined for 24 top-10 program performances during the season. The 2025-26 squad set three school records (50 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay).

Rachel Dildine was selected for the FISU America Games in July. Four Hawkeyes (Olivia Frantum, Mallory Kell, Meredith O’Malley and Leslie Wendel) were named CSC Academic All-District honorees.

In his first few seasons as head coach, Mundt began rebuilding the program, initially competing with a roster of 13 student-athletes. Iowa had nine scoring performances at the Big Ten Championships and eight student-athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors in his first season.

Since taking over the rowing program in 2022, Garbutt has led the Hawkeyes to a Big Ten Boat of the Week honors in five consecutive years. The Hawkeyes finished fifth at the Big Ten Championships in Garbutt’s first two seasons as head coach (2022, 2023). Garbutt has grown Iowa’s international profile, adding ​16 international athletes since being at the helm. 

Under Garbutt’s leadership, four student-athletes have been named all-conference, 22 have been identified as Big Ten Distinguished Scholars and one was a College Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) honorable mention All-American.

Garbutt previously coached collegiately at Miami (2013), was an assistant at Iowa (2013-20) and returned to Iowa City from La Salle, where he led the men’s and women’s program (2020-21). Garbutt was on the Hawkeye staff in 2017 and 2018 when Iowa was named CRCA Region 4 Staff of the Year. In 2017, Iowa placed 12th nationally at the NCAA Championships. The following year, the Hawkeyes placed a program-best fourth in the Big Ten and set a school scoring record at NCAA’s, putting up 69 points and placing 11th.