John Steppe

Wisconsin volleyball announces new roles for two assistants, hires another assistant Wisconsin volleyball announced new roles for two existing assistant coaches and hired a new assistant coach ahead of the 2025 season.

#Badgers volleyball has announced some staff moves:

Lauren Carlini ➡️ assistant coach
Gary White ➡️ director of player personnel and analytics
John Shondell ➡️ assistant coach

More details: www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

Wisconsin men’s basketball’s newcomer-loaded 2025-26 team shows some encouraging signs Wisconsin men's basketball, with several newcomers on its roster, has shown some reasons for optimism this summer.

A few of the articles so far on the #Badgers beat:

Update on 2026 basketball recruiting: www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

It's still early, but Wisconsin men's basketball has some encouraging summer signs: www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

A little late posting on here, but incredibly grateful for the last five years at The Gazette (including four years on the Iowa football beat).

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

And incredibly excited to be back home at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as I cover Wisconsin Badgers athletics.

As Iowa's Paul Federici retires, he leaves legacy of mentorship, steady leadership Iowa's longtime director of football operations is retiring after 21 years with the Hawkeyes, where he made an "incredibly challenging" role look "effortless" while mentoring the next generation.

Paul Federici is retiring following 21 years with #Hawkeyes football (including 16 as director of football operations).

He leaves a legacy of making an "incredibly challenging" role look "effortless" while mentoring the next generation.

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

Coralville's Xtream Arena to host first NCAA women's wrestling championships in 2026 The first-ever NCAA women's wrestling championships will be in the University of Iowa's backyard.

The first-ever NCAA women's wrestling championships will take place in the #Hawkeyes' backyard.

Coralville's Xtream Arena will host the 2026 finals in women's wrestling's first season as an official NCAA championship sport.

www.thegazette.com/hawkeye-wres...

Aaron Graves looks forward to getting married, growing as leader ahead of 2025 season Aaron Graves has a big Saturday ahead of him as he gets married this weekend. As for Saturdays in the fall, Graves hopes to improve his leadership on the defensive line.

#Hawkeyes DL Aaron Graves has a big Saturday ahead of him this weekend as he gets married.

As for Saturdays in the fall, the all-Big Ten honorable mention is looking to improve as a leader on the defensive line.

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

Hawk Off the Press Podcast: Iowa Hawkeyes football running backs coach Omar Young Hawk Off the Press Podcast: Iowa Hawkeyes football running backs coach Omar Young

🎙️ New episode of Hawk Off The Press:

#Hawkeyes RB coach Omar Young joins me on the podcast this week to talk about Iowa's running backs, his coaching philosophy, the Shanahan offense and much more.

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

Where Iowa football 2026 recruiting stands after 3 weeks of official visits Recruiting rankings for Iowa's 2026 class currently vary from 31st to 51st after the Hawkeyes picked up a commitment from top instate talent Julian Manson.

A look at where the #Hawkeyes' 2026 recruiting class stands after official visit season and a trio of commitments in the last three days: www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

In-state LB Kasen Thomas has committed to the #Hawkeyes following his official visit over the weekend.

His other offers included Nebraska, Kansas State, Arizona and Iowa State. Big get for Iowa's 2026 class.

How Chicagoland region has remained talent hotbed for Iowa football As college football programs from across the country covet the Chicago area, a variety of factors have helped the Hawkeyes maintain it as a recruiting pipeline.

As the Chicagoland area gets national recruiting attention, it has remained one of the #Hawkeyes' key talent pipelines.

A look at what factors have led to Iowa's success there: www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

The #Hawkeyes have picked up a commitment from 2026 DB Ronnie Hill after offering him a scholarship. He camped with Iowa last week.

Iowa was the first power-conference school to offer Hill.

Thank you! I really enjoyed both conversations.

Why Seth Wallace is 'very open-minded' with Iowa's LB situation ahead of 2025 season Iowa assistant head coach/linebackers coach Seth Wallace said on The Gazette's Hawk Off the Press podcast that the Hawkeyes have "a handful of names that I think have to be thrown in there as candidat...

After losing an impressive senior group of linebackers, Seth Wallace believes the #Hawkeyes have "a handful of names that I think have to be thrown in there as candidates" at the position group in 2025.

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

Hawk Off the Press Podcast: Hawk Off the Press Podcast: Iowa Hawkeye Football Assistant Head Coach Seth Wallace Iowa Hawkeye Assistant Head Coach Seth Wallace talks recruiting, head coaching and the upcoming 2025 football season

🎙️ New episode of Hawk Off The Press:

Enjoyed talking with Seth Wallace about Iowa's 2025 linebacker group, the #Hawkeyes' success recruiting Chicagoland, his journey from D3 player to Big Ten assistant head coach and more:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

2026 #Hawkeyes QB commit Cash Herrera has reopened his recruitment, he announced on social media.

Herrera initially chose Iowa over offers from UCLA, Minnesota, San Diego State and others. Announced offers in May from California and Arizona.

Tim Lester's Iowa offense improved remarkably in 2024. What could be next in 2025? Many of Iowa's offensive metrics rose dramatically in 2024, but Tim Lester believes the Hawkeyes were never "even close to being able to truly take the gloves off offensively" in the first season with...

As much as Iowa's offense improved in 2024, OC Tim Lester believes the #Hawkeyes were never "even close to being able to truly take the gloves off offensively" in the first season with his Shanahan-style system:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

Hawk Off the Press Podcast: Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester Hawk Off the Press Podcast: Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester

🎙️ New episode of Hawk Off The Press:

Had a great conversation with #Hawkeyes OC Tim Lester about Year 1 vs. 2 with the Shanahan offense, Mark Gronowski, his own coaching journey and more: www.thegazette.com/podcasts/haw...

Mark Gronowski is 'gloves off' in summer workouts, has more 'freedom' in 2025 offense Tim Lester gives a veteran quarterback like Mark Gronowski "freedom" that he has not "always given everybody," he said this week on The Gazette's Hawk Off the Press podcast.

Tim Lester gives a positive update on #Hawkeyes QB Mark Gronowski and explains why he gives Gronowski "freedom" that he has not "always given everybody" in this system:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

What House vs. NCAA settlement's final approval means for Iowa in 2025 and beyond The House vs. NCAA settlement received its long-awaited final approval on Friday night, clearing the way for schools to directly share revenue with its athletes. Here is what we know so far about how ...

What we know so far about the impact of the House vs. NCAA settlement's final approval on #Hawkeyes athletics in 2025-26 and beyond:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-hawkeye...

Yes (most notably Mike Leach)

Iowa baseball plans to begin second phase of Duane Banks Field renovations in 2026 Iowa baseball unveiled plans to begin construction on a second phase of renovations to Duane Banks Field in the summer of 2026, pending approval from the Board of Regents at its meeting next week.

#Hawkeyes baseball plans to begin construction on the second phase of Duane Banks Field renovations in the summer of 2026, pending approval from the Board of Regents.

www.thegazette.com/iowa-hawkeye...

What College Football Hall of Fame's eligibility change could mean for Kirk Ferentz The College Football Hall of Fame's recent eligibility change quietly makes the path much more feasible for current Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz to be eligible whenever his coaching career concludes.

The College Football Hall of Fame's recent eligibility changes appears to be good news for Kirk Ferentz.

His career winning percentage is .598, and the path is realistic for him to keep it above the new .595 benchmark in 2025 and beyond.

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal... #Hawkeyes

Former #Hawkeyes standouts Brad Banks and Dallas Clark are on the 2026 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.

The voting deadline is July 1, and the 2026 class will be announced early next year.

For incoming OL transfer Bryce George, Iowa was 'high up there' from Day 1 Offensive lineman Bryce George received plenty of portal interest after winning three Division II national championships and being named a 2024 first-team All-American. He explains to The Gazette why ...

Offensive line transfer (and D2 All-American) Bryce George discusses his fit with the #Hawkeyes, his skill set and Tim Lester's first time recruiting him at Western Michigan:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

How Iowa football's roster retention has fueled success in transfer portal era "Hopefully we've got an environment that's healthy," Kirk Ferentz said this month, as Iowa has faced less transfer portal attrition than its Big Ten peers. The roster retention has been a key factor i...

As transfer portal numbers rise nationally each year, the #Hawkeyes' ability to retain their roster has been a key factor in their recent overall success:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

Big Ten baseball standings with one game to go:

#Hawkeyes can still clinch a share of the regular season title with a win against Oregon.

Iowa gains 'needed depth' at CB, safety with spring transfer portal additions South Dakota transfer Shahid Barros has "immediate familiarity with what we do defensively," assistant head coach Seth Wallace told reporters after a Linn County I-Club event on Thursday.

Transfers Shahid Barros and Ty Hudkins give Iowa "needed depth" at cornerback and safety.

Barros' familiarity with Iowa's system and Hudkins' maturity also are big pluses as they join the #Hawkeyes:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-footbal...

#Hawkeyes assistant head coach/LB coach Seth Wallace at a Linn County I-Club event last night:

"We’re probably not in the market at this point for any more transfers. So probably what you see on our roster is what we’re going to work with."

Hawk Off The Press Podcast: Iowa women's wrestling assoicate head coach Gary Mayabb joins the podcast Iowa women's wrestling assoicate coach Gary Mayabb talks with host, John Steppe, and recaps 2nd consectuive national title and talks about upcoming expectations and what's next for the Iowa women's wr...

🎙️ New episode of Hawk Off The Press:

Gary Mayabb joins me to talk about #Hawkeyes women's wrestling's second consecutive national title, the team's international success since then and more:

www.thegazette.com/on-iowa-podc...

Elite underclassmen help Iowa track and field acclimate to more challenging Big Ten "Elevated" recruiting has translated to elevated results for Iowa track and field as the Hawkeyes face tougher competition in the expanded Big Ten.

"Elevated" recruiting has translated to elevated results from Iowa track and field's underclassmen as the #Hawkeyes acclimate swiftly to a more challenging Big Ten:

www.thegazette.com/iowa-hawkeye...