Part of the issue, and it applies to some other sports at Iowa as you all know, is that Iowa has not always been seen as attractive job. Rumor had it that Marla Looper was the eighth person offered the softball job, after the way Barta handled the Blevins situation. That was talked about all over the softball community. And apart from that, Pearl Field has not kept pace with the better facilities. The new playing surface is nice (as was the old natural surface), but there's not much for parking or seating, and what's there has some awkward sightlines. Had we been in the Big Ten softball tournament last spring and had some of our own fans present, I imagine there would have been a lot of complaints from other schools' fans. The video board can be a challenge to read when there is afternoon sun. We continue to cross our fingers that Iowa City's revamped levee system will contain the next major flood event. And as our buddy Steve A. pointed out a while back, there is the reputation of being a "football school".
2025 Softball
- Thread starter UptownHawk
- Start date
You're 100% correct, HawkLife. The players are not responsible for this and it's unfortunate they are having to deal with it. Give them props for fighting through a tough game Sunday morning and beating Illinois. With all the distractions it says a lot they were able to focus and beat another B1G team.
DI Softball Rankings - NCAA Women's Softball RPI | NCAA.com
Get updated NCAA Softball DI rankings from every source, including coaches and national polls.
www.ncaa.com
The first softball RPI was released yesterday.
Go Hawks.
What in theWORLD IS GOING O, ESPECIALLY WITH Gillespie? cMoss Hawk,can you fill in the blanks?
I can try and answer any specific questions. But, as far as Coach G goes, that is not my story to tell. I shouldn't put any medical info out here...
I read something somewhere a bout ugly re cruitingvisits not being a good look for the programcareto pexpand?
There have been some experiences like that. Not sure if it is any different at other programs though? Definitely some mis-communication at times.
Hawks pick up a solid win over Louisiana. After what had to be a long week for the players this is a nice reward. Let's go get a couple more wins this weekend.
Illinois last week and Louisiana this week. Really nice wins before the B1G gets into full swing. If we could take down Bama, that would be the cherry on top.
Iowa Interim Head Coach Brian Levin departs from softball program
Iowa softball’s Interim Head Coach Brian Levin confirmed he has been let go from the program a week after meeting with the team regarding culture on March 1. “There’s been a cultural problem in the softball program since I arrived,” Levin said in an audio message sent to The Daily Iowan. “It’s a...
dailyiowan.com
DI article on Levin....now that he is not with the program I hope he stops texting recruits.
Also, feels like he threw Coach G under the bus for team culture.
Easy to say in hindsight, but not sure how anyone thought Coach Levin was ever going to be a good fit. Given the sketchy details of his previous departure, it seems like he is a problem. Yeah, he can stop texting recruits immediately, but I've heard stories about the girls telling recruits not to come to Iowa because it was so awful - guess he brought a lot of that on. I had also heard of a mini-coup to overthrow coach G which appears to be more and more likely the more comes out. Sad.Iowa Interim Head Coach Brian Levin departs from softball program
Iowa softball’s Interim Head Coach Brian Levin confirmed he has been let go from the program a week after meeting with the team regarding culture on March 1. “There’s been a cultural problem in the softball program since I arrived,” Levin said in an audio message sent to The Daily Iowan. “It’s a...
DI article on Levin....now that he is not with the program I hope he stops texting recruits.
Also, feels like he threw Coach G under the bus for team culture.
I watched a few games this fall and wasn't impressed. If he quite the team because a couple girls took a knee during the anthem he's probably not in the right line of work anyway. I'm sure it hurts as a vet, but these are young people who are learning how to navigate life on their own for the first time - You HAVE to meet them in the middle...........Good riddance........
Iowa Interim Head Coach Brian Levin departs from softball program
Iowa softball’s Interim Head Coach Brian Levin confirmed he has been let go from the program a week after meeting with the team regarding culture on March 1. “There’s been a cultural problem in the softball program since I arrived,” Levin said in an audio message sent to The Daily Iowan. “It’s a...
DI article on Levin....now that he is not with the program I hope he stops texting recruits.
Also, feels like he threw Coach G under the bus for team culture.
Geez, what a mess. The Blevins situation began with a group of players trying to get an unpopular assistant fired, followed by parents getting involved. Looks like another program reset coming up.
Not sure how accurate that is. This all seems weird and complicated, too.
I wasn't there in the locker room. What I posted was combo of what came out in the news, and what was on the Iowa boards at the time. The parents arranged a meeting with Barta, and Blevins' "retirement" followed. Iowa had been a highly regarded program up to that point. Since then...
Two midweek games with St. Thomas who is on a nice win streak and then a tough B1G opener at Indiana coming up this week.
Coach Gollan got tossed in the Alabama game leaving Sammy Diaz as the coach.
Does anyone know what happened to Coach Doud-Johnson? She disappeared without any explanation in the fall.
Go Hawks!
Coach Gollan got tossed in the Alabama game leaving Sammy Diaz as the coach.
Does anyone know what happened to Coach Doud-Johnson? She disappeared without any explanation in the fall.
Go Hawks!
I'd been wondering that myself, I never heard any details about her leaving. I'd just assumed it was part of the normal movement of assistants from program to program, but a quick Google search didn't come with anything after her time at Iowa.
Sounds like we have a stellar group of young women (and parents) in this program...............................................................
Another coach that just falls off the face of the earth............if you're ever wondering if a coach is good or not, take a look at the number of potential suitors they would have if they left their current role.
If the answer is 'nobody' then they probably aren't a very good coach.......I've seen that happen a lot (at all levels)..........
Coach Doud-Johnson "moved on" immediately after the hiring of Coach Gollan. The reason, or even that she left, was NEVER addresses by Coach G. So, the girls have no idea why she left, she just stopped showing up to practice, and was never mentioned again...
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Are you coming to that conclusion based off an article that only had one side of the story? By a coach that is sending out messages to recruits to not come here in spite? A coach who was just fired? A coach that just quit on his TEAM in the middle of a road trip 1000 miles away? Or do you know any of the players or parents?
wow, that's pretty bizarre. Thanks for the insight.
Sheesh, no need to get so defensive about being presented with the truth..........
That is a really bizarre way to handle a change in the coaching staff.......It really makes me wonder how or why people get into coaching in the first place....Of course, after reading this thread we're not talking about the Nick Saban's of the world........
No wonder you are ‘evil monkey in the closet’. No one is getting defensive, but you clearly don’t have a clue. You know nothing about these players. The women on this team do not act entitled, their parents are not jerks and the issues surrounding this program were long before the Coach Levin situation. The article by the Daily Iowan was terrible because it only presented the coaches side of the story, which was an absolute joke filled with lies to cover himself. What kind of reporting is that? So, evil one, save your snide comments for X. Bye.Sheesh, no need to get so defensive about being presented with the truth..........
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Hawks take both in a doubleheader over a St. Thomas team riding a nice win streak (swept Drake and Miami of Ohio among other wins). Allows just one run over 15 innings, and Roman caps it off with a walk-off RBI.
Hawks take both in a doubleheader over a St. Thomas team riding a nice win streak (swept Drake and Miami of Ohio among other wins). Allows just one run over 15 innings, and Roman caps it off with a walk-off RBI.
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St Thomas also beat Minnesota earlier in the year. They are a pretty good team. Still need to get the bats going a little more, but pretty clean game for the most part.
Real nice crowd, and even some reporters there covering the game for some reason! 😀
So Levin got his feelings hurt because he couldn't allow enough room in his head for a worldview other than his own, and turned a mole hill into a mountain. All while acting by far the most immature one by what he said to the media on the way out. Lovely.
Imagine getting a shot at a D1 coaching job and walking out because a couple of girls took a knee during the anthem. A goal he probably worked 1/2 his life for. Seems awfully short-sighted to me. Considering these girls are in college, they're going to have political, religious, etc views across the board......You have to be able to work w/ people different from yourself and some just aren't cut out for it.
Any time a coach blames 'program culture' they are pointing the finger at themselves..........
Fun games! Some really nice defensive plays and great pitching.
It's really fun to see Iowa winning all the games they should be. It's been a long time since that was the case. We have some really good talent. It would be nice if Devyn still was able to pitch as that would give us another strong arm, but you roll with what you have.
https://www.warrennolan.com/softball/2025/index For anyone interested the link above is to the Warren Nolan Softball site. It updates RPI as games become final and is pretty well aligned with the NCAA RPI.
Go Hawks!
It's really fun to see Iowa winning all the games they should be. It's been a long time since that was the case. We have some really good talent. It would be nice if Devyn still was able to pitch as that would give us another strong arm, but you roll with what you have.
https://www.warrennolan.com/softball/2025/index For anyone interested the link above is to the Warren Nolan Softball site. It updates RPI as games become final and is pretty well aligned with the NCAA RPI.
Go Hawks!
A HUGE win today. Iowa was not favored to beat Indiana. Not only are these Hawks winning the games they are supposed to, they are winning games no one expected them to. These women are playing like a UNIFIED team. What culture problem? Levin should be embarrassed and ashamed of himself for trying to drag this program through the mud because he didn’t agree with personal beliefs of these women. Proud of these Hawks!
They’re doing well, and I am enjoying the season, but Jalen Adams is carrying us. Without her, we’d be screwed.
Completely agree with you. Without top tier pitching, it’s very hard to stay in games when you start the 1st or 2nd inning already down 2, 3, 4+ runs. Before Jalen and after Doocy/Shaw, the struggle has been real. Coach G’s biggest mistake was not trying to keep Shaw/Lehman to lead an inexperienced pitching staff. The freshman from Nevada (forgot her name) has been a great 1-2 punch with Jalen and she’s a legit 2-way player. But, the offense has stepped up in crucial spots, although have also struggled putting up runs at times. That’s been Iowa DNA unfortunately. Nevertheless, I like the fight and energy of this team. While I know a tougher schedule is coming and a bit of reality sets in, I’m a fan.
