Iowa announces Renee Gillispie will not return as Iowa head softball coach
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced on Tuesday that Renee Gillispie will not be returning as the head coach of the softball program. Gillispie, who did not coach this season due to a personal health matter, completed her sixth season with the Hawkeyes in 2024.
“We would like to thank Coach Gillispie for her dedication and passion in the world of softball,” said Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz. “In her over 30-year collegiate softball coaching career, she impacted hundreds of student-athletes, and we appreciate her time at Iowa.”
A national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
Karl Gollan is currently serving as Iowa’s interim head coach. He joined the program before this season as the pitching coach, but was promoted to interim head coach after Brian Levin was let go as the first interim head coach in early March due to a dispute over some Iowa players kneeling during the National Anthem.
Iowa is currently 31-17 overall and 12-7 in Big Ten play.
The Hawkeyes will face Iowa State and Northern Iowa in back-to-back home games on Tuesday and Wednesday at Bob Pearl Field.
Iowa will then close out the regular season with a three-game series against Rutgers beginning on Friday in Iowa City.
Despite all the distractions, the Hawkeyes are in position to make the 12-team Big Ten Tournament after having failed to make the conference tournament last season when it was held in Iowa City.
Editor’s note: Hawkeyesports.com contributed to this report.
