IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced on Friday that Interim Softball Head Coach Brian Levin is no longer with the program effective today.

Assistant Coach Karl Gollan will lead the team for the remainder of the season.

“I am incredibly proud of the student-athletes and their commitment to focus on competing as Hawkeyes,” said Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz in a release. “It is unfortunate we needed to make the change in leadership at this time, but providing an environment for our student-athletes to be their best academically and athletically remains our priority.”

Iowa is competing in the Alabama Spring Break Showdown in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this weekend. The Hawkeyes defeated Louisiana Lafayette 4-2 in the first of two games on Friday. Iowa will face Alabama in the second game on Friday and will then play both teams again on Saturday.

Levin gave his version of what led to the breakup to the Daily Iowan, the University of Iowa’s student newspaper, in an article that was published late Friday afternoon and shortly after Iowa had announced that Levin was no longer with the program.

“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 problem in which some players are comfortable speaking up and some players are silenced for having different views or opinions.”

Levin was named the interim head coach for the 2025 season after it was announced in December that head coach Renee Gillispie would miss the season due to a personal health matter.

Beth Goetz is currently in Indianapolis attending the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament and unavailable for comment at this time.

Hawk Fanatic has also reached out to the Iowa softball media contact seeking comment from Iowa players about Levin’s accusations.

Levin told the Daily Iowan in his audio message that “tensions came to a head” when he called a team meeting between games in Fayetteville, Arkansas, last weekend after multiple players decided to kneel for the national anthem prior to Iowa games.

Levin, a former U.S. Army veteran and former green beret, also told the Daily Iowan that he did not officially resign.

“Unfortunately, my assumption is that I will not be returning which would indicate there is no plan to improve the environment and it will be swept under the rug for the next coach to deal with,” Levin said in his message to the Daily Iowan. “If so, then my hope is that you will be very cautious about what environment you will be putting yourself into, because there is still time to weigh other options.”