Ball State Hires New Athletics Director

Ball State University’s new athletics director says she will serve the Muncie school and the Cardinal teams with a “relentless drive for success.”  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann introduces us to Beth Goetz.

After growing up in St. Louis and playing collegiate soccer for Brevard College in North Carolina and Clemson University in South Carolina, Beth Goetz worked in athletics for several universities around the country – including a stint at Butler University.  Most recently, she was the University of Connecticut’s athletics chief operating officer.

Goetz says she believes in higher education and the academic success of student athletes.  She also believes in winning.

“Our department will not shy away from expressing our desire and expectation to win and bring championship trophies back to campus.  We challenge ourselves to increase the energy and passion, and fill the stands and membership of the Cardinal Varsity Club.”

Goetz will replace retiring Athletics Director Mark Sandy, who was hired in 2015.  The university says while he was at the helm, eight Ball State teams won conference or division championships.

Also in 2015, Ball State announced its athletics fundraising campaign raised more than $20 million.  That money is paying for new or improved facilities, including a nearly-finished new basketball and volleyball practice center attached to Worthen Arena.