The University of Iowa Athletics Department has named Joe Parker as Deputy Director of Athletics
for Strategic Initiatives and Chief Operating Officer and begins his duties with the Hawkeyes on July 1, 2024.
“Joe will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team and the Iowa community. He brings a wealth of experience
and knowledge that I know will have a positive impact on our coaches, staff and student-athletes,” said Beth Goetz, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair.
His time as a student-athlete helped steer him toward a career in athletics administration. Parker is a proven athletics
administrator with leadership experience at several collegiate programs, including the Colorado State University, Texas
Tech University, University of Michigan, University of Oklahoma, University of Texas and Washington State University.
“I am thrilled to join Beth Goetz’s leadership team and the Iowa Athletics family. UI has always been a place where
institutional values are clear and embraced by everyone who appreciates the University’s mission,” Parker said. “As a
member of the Big Ten Conference, Hawkeye Athletics is incredibly well-positioned to build successful strategies to meet
the opportunities and challenges facing college sports. I am grateful that Beth offered me this opportunity to serve Iowa
student-athletes. My wife, Jen, and I are excited to wear the black and gold with pride.”
Parker most recently served as the director of athletics at Colorado State for nearly nine years (2015-24). Under his
leadership, the Rams won 24 Mountain West titles, second-most among any program in the league. In addition to
Colorado State’s success on the field, Parker was successful with sponsorships, facilities, academics and fundraising. The
native of Battle Creek, Michigan, orchestrated facilities design, funding and new construction for numerous projects,
including the new on-campus $220 million football stadium, which returned on campus for the first time in 50 years.
During his time as Deputy A.D. at Texas Tech, he oversaw a Big 12 Conference program with 17 teams and an annual
budget of $68.5 million. Under Parker’s leadership in building excitement and engagement among Red Raider fans, the
university achieved first-ever sellouts for football season tickets and broke attendance records in football, men’s
basketball and baseball. In addition, Parker has been involved in all Title IX and Gender Equity issues at Texas tech.
During his tenure, Parker also led programs to boost the classroom success of student-athletes and led the development
and recent launch of a current $185 million fundraising campaign.
Parker joined his alma mater in 2003 and was a member of the executive staff at Michigan for eight years, responsible
for the ongoing assessment, design, installation and management of the strategic plan for the Wolverine athletics
department. He served as a key member of the department’s four-person project team that was responsible for more
than $400 million in capital improvements. These capital improvement projects included the Ross Academic Center, the
Michigan Stadium renovation, the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex, Football locker rooms, new Glick Fieldhouse, Junge Family Champions Center, Basketball Player Development Center, Bahna Wrestling Center, and Soccer Complex. Parker helped secure $14 million in annual gift revenue and more than $31 million in major gifts to support the football stadium renovation project.
His roots as a former student-athlete served as a guidepost as a member of the department’s six-person Athletics
Program Administrators Unit, which manages all 27 sports programs at Michigan. The unit is responsible for evaluating,
counseling coaches, setting program policies, financial planning and other decisions necessary to operate each individual
program.
A key component to Parker’s successful career in athletics administration began in 1983, when he joined the University
of Michigan Swimming & Diving program as a freshman. Parker lettered four seasons for the Wolverines and was a
three-time All-American (1984, 1985 and 1987) and team captain. In his senior season, Parker earned both a gold and
bronze medal at the 1987 World University Games in Zagreb, Yugoslavia.
Parker earned a master’s degree from Texas in 1994 and during that time served the Longhorns athletics department as
a development manager. During his time in Austin, he served as a member of the senior staff and three-person planning
committee which developed the department’s recommendation for the football stadium renovation. He also managed
the department’s annual giving program and coordinated the season ticket process for Longhorn Foundation donors.
Parker moved to the Pac-10 and Washington State University in 1998, where he served as director of annual giving.
While with the Cougars, he managed the annual giving program and provided a leadership role for major gift efforts. He
was also responsible for statewide donor events as well as prospect stewardship and cultivation.
His next move came in 2000, when he headed to the Big 12 Conference and the University of Oklahoma, where he
served the athletics department as director of the Sooner Club until 2003. While in Norman, Parker provided leadership
support for a $120 million capital campaign for athletic facility improvements. He also designed and implemented a new
premium seating program, which funded 70-percent of the $75 million football stadium renovation and expansion.
During his tenure at OU, the annual giving increased more than 270-percent to a record $12.5 million in 2003.
Parker earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Michigan in 1987 and his M.B.A from Texas in 1994. He and his
wife, Jennie, have two children, Emma and Will.