Former University of Minnesota interim athletic director Beth Goetz has been hired as UConn's Chief Operating Officer and Senior Woman Administrator for the UConn athletic department and will also serve as the sport administrator for football

“I am honored to join the University of Connecticut team and I am extremely grateful to Director of Athletics David Benedict and President Susan Herbst  for the opportunity to serve an institution nationally recognized for academic and athletic achievement,” Goetz said in a statement. “I look forward to working under David's leadership and with an outstanding group of coaches and staff as they continue to pursue excellence each and every day on behalf of UConn student-athletes and their future success."

Goetz is the second hire by Benedict with ties to the power conferences as Deputy Athletic Director Vic Cegles spent time at Arizona State before leaving his job as the Director of Athletics at Long Beach State to come to UConn.

“The opportunity to add an individual and leader of Beth’s caliber to our team at UConn is like winning the national championship or signing the number one prospect in the recruiting class in terms of athletic administration,” Benedict said in a statement. “Beth is a consummate professional and brings a diverse skill set to Storrs and I know she will have a profound influence on our student-athletes, coaches and staff. Personally, I couldn’t be happier in her decision to join the UConn family and she will have an immediate impact.”

Goetz was named the interim AD since August following the resignation of Norwood Teague. Mark Coyle began in his role as AD at Minnesota on May 31.

Goetz spent 11 seasons as the women's soccer coach at Missouri-St. Louis and in her final eight years at the university was the assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator before taking a job as an associate athletic director and senior women's administrator at Butler from 2008-2013. She joined the Minnesota athletic department on March 4, 2013.

Goetz was on the Big Ten’s Administrators Council and is a member of the conference’s Sports Management Committee

Goetz was entrusted with overseeing the athletic department after the departure of Teague after he was accused of sexual harassment