Beth Goetz stepped to the Kinnick Stadium podium Saturday night with an announcement for Hawkeye Nation. “I gotta take the opportunity on behalf of the athletic department, the University of Iowa and all Hawkeyes to congratulate Coach on this monumental achievement.” Iowa’s athletic director was speaking for a whole lot of people, curious for someone […]
Rob Howe
Rob Howe: The ‘prep portal’ is souring high school sports in Iowa
You’ll notice a pattern in my columns for Little Village. They’re giving old-man-yells-at-cloud vibes. Yes. Yes, they are. Hopefully, almost 35 years covering sports leads to a little wisdom finding its way in as well. That brings us to today’s rant — What are we doing to high school sports, people? And by we, I […]
After a mid-season coaching controversy, the Hawkeye Softball team bonded and thrived. So why are players transferring?
Soo-Jin Berry wrapped up our interview in May with an important closing thought. “Coach Karl is the best,” Hawkeye Softball’s starting shortstop stated with conviction. Karl Gollan stepped in as the team’s acting head coach during the middle of a season completed in early May. He led the University of Iowa to one of its […]
Rob Howe: Why I’m writing about sports for Little Village
My career changed significantly in October of 2020. It was not unexpected. University of Iowa fans warned me a few months earlier that I’d be ruining my career reporting on racial bias in the school’s football program. Amplifying voices of the former student-athletes making those claims burned bridges with many Hawkeyes and their intensely loyal […]

