Tag: Joe Parker

Iowa set to hire ex-Colorado State AD Joe Parker as deputy athletic director, Chief Operating Officer

Iowa has a new deputy AD and Chief Operating Officer.

The University of Iowa has reportedly found its new deputy athletic director and Chief Operating Officer.

After spending nearly nine years as Colorado State’s athletic director, Joe Parker is set to be the Iowa Hawkeyes’ new deputy AD and Chief Operating Officer.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the news on Tuesday.

Parker steps into Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz’s vacated position. After nearly nine years guiding the Rams’ athletics department, Parker announced he was stepping down as Colorado State’s athletics director in February.

Hired in March 2015 by Colorado State, Parker oversaw the construction of CSU’s new on-campus stadium, Canvas Stadium. The $220 million, 727,000-square-foot facility was financed entirely through a bond sale, with no general fund or tuition funding, and backed by private donations.

Parker helped secure a record-setting $5 million donation from the Bohemian Foundation to aid in the creation of the women’s sports facility.

Under Parker’s guidance, Colorado State won 24 Mountain West championships.

One of the highlights was the hiring of Niko Medved to replace former Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy. Medved has compiled a 117-75 (60-46 Mountain West Conference) record during his run as Rams coach from 2018-24. CSU has made two out of the past three NCAA Tournaments.

Turmoil on the gridiron seemed to be the root of frustration among Rams fans with Parker’s tenure.

Mike Bobo, Steve Addazio and Jay Norvell each served as Colorado State head football coach during Parker’s run as AD. Bobo compiled a 28-35 (20-20 Mountain West) record from 2015-19, Addazio a 4-12 (3-9 Mountain West) mark from 2020-21 and Norvell an 8-16 (6-10 Mountain West) record during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

“It has been a privilege to serve Colorado State University and our students in this role. I also want to thank our many donors, partners and fans for helping to move the department forward and position CSU Athletics for a very bright future,” Parker said in a statement after his resignation from Colorado State.

Prior to his time at Colorado State, Parker served as Texas Tech’s deputy athletic director. Parker also joined Michigan as the associate athletics director for development and was promoted in 2006 to senior associate athletics director for development and corporate relations.

Parker also spent time at Texas, Washington State and Oklahoma.

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Joe Joyce stays busy, waits for elusive opportunity

Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce is staying busy as he waits for an elusive opportunity to take part in a big fight.

Joe Joyce has learned that big opportunities can be hard to come by.

The heavyweight contender and 2016 Olympic silver medalist was expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk two years ago and Joseph Parker this year but both fights fell through, with Usyk going on to take Anthony Joshua’s titles in a stunning upset.

Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) recorded a break-through victory when he stopped Daniel Dubois in November 2020 but, so far, it hasn’t led to anything substantial.

The 36-year-old Londoner will face journeyman Christian Hammer (27-9, 17 KOs) – a replacement for Parker – on Saturday at the OVO Arena Wembley (ESPN+ in the U.S.). In the meantime, he’ll continue to target his top rivals and wait.

Of course, that includes WBC titleholder Tyson Fury, which whom he has sparred. Joyce is ranked No. 2 by that sanctioning body, behind Fury and No. 1 Deontay Wilder.

Joyce likes his chances against the top big man.

“I agree with him on one thing: None of the others stand a chance against him,” Joyce told The Sun. “I am the only one that can beat him if he ever took the challenge.”

Joyce is the No. 1 contender to WBO champion Usyk, who is scheduled to face Joshua a second time on Sept. 25.

Fury probably will be first in line to face the Usyk-Joshua winner in what would be an enormous event. However, if that doesn’t happen for whatever reason, Joyce would be a leading candidate.

He’d be happy to face either man.

“I’m No 1 with the WBO and when Usyk beats Joshua again I’ll show you how a proper heavyweight in 10-ounce gloves deals with a man who lost to a welterweight (Shawn Porter) in the amateurs,” he said.

And if Joshua turns the tables on Usyk?

“If by some miracle Joshua beats Usyk,” Joyce said, “He will have to face me or vacate the belt. His chin has gone and I don’t think his heart is fully in the game any more — he’s a businessman more interested in lecturing students.”

Joyce has said he, too, will fight next in September. Who will he face? He holds out hope of still fighting Parker but that seems unlikely after the Kiwi expressed interest in fighting Dillian Whyte a second time.

That means Joyce probably will have to wait even longer for a big fight.

[lawrence-related id=31194,22112,15846]

Joe Joyce stays busy, waits for elusive opportunity

Heavyweight contender Joe Joyce is staying busy as he waits for an elusive opportunity to take part in a big fight.

Joe Joyce has learned that big opportunities can be hard to come by.

The heavyweight contender and 2016 Olympic silver medalist was expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk two years ago and Joseph Parker this year but both fights fell through, with Usyk going on to take Anthony Joshua’s titles in a stunning upset.

Joyce (13-0, 12 KOs) recorded a break-through victory when he stopped Daniel Dubois in November 2020 but, so far, it hasn’t led to anything substantial.

The 36-year-old Londoner will face journeyman Christian Hammer (27-9, 17 KOs) – a replacement for Parker – on Saturday at the OVO Arena Wembley (ESPN+ in the U.S.). In the meantime, he’ll continue to target his top rivals and wait.

Of course, that includes WBC titleholder Tyson Fury, which whom he has sparred. Joyce is ranked No. 2 by that sanctioning body, behind Fury and No. 1 Deontay Wilder.

Joyce likes his chances against the top big man.

“I agree with him on one thing: None of the others stand a chance against him,” Joyce told The Sun. “I am the only one that can beat him if he ever took the challenge.”

Joyce is the No. 1 contender to WBO champion Usyk, who is scheduled to face Joshua a second time on Sept. 25.

Fury probably will be first in line to face the Usyk-Joshua winner in what would be an enormous event. However, if that doesn’t happen for whatever reason, Joyce would be a leading candidate.

He’d be happy to face either man.

“I’m No 1 with the WBO and when Usyk beats Joshua again I’ll show you how a proper heavyweight in 10-ounce gloves deals with a man who lost to a welterweight (Shawn Porter) in the amateurs,” he said.

And if Joshua turns the tables on Usyk?

“If by some miracle Joshua beats Usyk,” Joyce said, “He will have to face me or vacate the belt. His chin has gone and I don’t think his heart is fully in the game any more — he’s a businessman more interested in lecturing students.”

Joyce has said he, too, will fight next in September. Who will he face? He holds out hope of still fighting Parker but that seems unlikely after the Kiwi expressed interest in fighting Dillian Whyte a second time.

That means Joyce probably will have to wait even longer for a big fight.

[lawrence-related id=31194,22112,15846]