IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa rowing program welcomes graduate assistant coach Molly Rygh and Assistant Coach/Director of Operations Paige Schlapkohl, head coach Jeff Garbutt announced on Tuesday. Rygh and Schlapkohl are both former members of the program.

“I am so excited to have Molly join the staff as she continues her graduate program,” Garbutt said. “She was an amazing member of the team during her four years here. Being one of our original Homegrown Hawkeyes, she brings a unique perspective to our staff that will be valuable in our athletes’ development. Her experience as a Hawkeye and leadership abilities will be huge assets to our staff.”

Throughout Rygh’s rowing career at Iowa, she earned honors as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, two-time Academic All-Big Ten, CRCA Scholar Athlete, and was a three-time letterwinner. Rygh raced on II Varsity 8+ boats and helped Iowa win B1G/Big 12 Double Dual in 2023. She is the daughter of Chris and Mary Beth Rygh. She studied elementary education throughout her time as a Hawkeye.

Garbutt also added, “Having Paige return home to Iowa City is amazing. In my time at Iowa, I can’t think of a better example of what our program embodies. She was one of our walk-ons during her freshman year, was a member of our Varsity Eight boat in her last season, competed at Henley, and eventually studied and rowed at Oxford Brookes University in England. Her Hawkeye story is one that is a tremendous example of what it means to be a Hawkeye rower and we are fortunate to have her back!”

As a sophomore, Schlapkohl helped the 2N8+ crew to a first-place finish at the Big Ten/ACC Double Dual. She appeared in eleven competitions on the II Varsity Eight crew, one including helping Iowa to second place at the Big Ten Championships her final year at Iowa.

A Davenport, Iowa native, Schlapkohl is the daughter of Loren and Nancy Schlapkohl. She also studied elementary education at UI and finished her degree at Oxford Brookes University in England.

Utah State coach Blake Anderson says his team faces a difficult test at Iowa. Anderson begins his third season as head coach and the Aggies were 6-7 last season.

Anderson says handling the environment will be a key and a good start would help.

Anderson says Iowa’s success on defense begins up front.

Anderson says avoiding negative plays will be a key.

The Matt Rhule era at Nebraska begins Thursday night when the Huskers visit Minnesota. Nebraska is coming off a 4-8 record last season.

Rhule likes the attitude of the team heading into the season.

The Huskers have suffered six consecutive losing seasons.

CHICAGO Ill. – The Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network today announced a new multi-year sponsorship agreement with DIRECTV, a U.S. leader in sports and entertainment, bringing fans behind the scenes of the nation’s most storied collegiate athletic conference.

In addition to the creation of unprecedented original content across football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and more, DIRECTV will be a supporting partner of the Big Ten Conference’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, as well as a presenting sponsor for at least one Big Ten Championship event in each year of the partnership.

Whether it is on the sideline, in the locker room, traveling with the team or joining practice, DIRECTV will bring fans a unique look at the action all year long. With an insider view of the Iowa Women’s Basketball team trip to Italy and Croatia, Volleyball Day in Nebraska, iconic football rivalries this fall and legendary basketball programs starting this winter, fans will have a deeper look at the Big Ten through the DIRECTV-B1G All-Access platform.

“DIRECTV will bring fans exclusive programming and behind-the-scenes content from the Big Ten Conference in partnership with the Big Ten Network, an experience so unique that fans will be on the edge of their seats year-round,” said Vince Torres, chief marketing officer of DIRECTV. “We’re honored to be a Sponsor of the Big Ten Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in all of college athletics to make this a reality for Big Ten fans everywhere.”

“We appreciate DIRECTV’s continued support for the Big Ten Conference,” said Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti. “From highlighting our student-athletes in exclusive behind-the-scenes action across multiple sports to involvement with our championship events to support for our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, DIRECTV continues to deliver for our fans.”

“DIRECTV’s commitment to sports and entertainment has been apparent to Big Ten fans since DIRECTV helped launch our network in 2007, and we are looking forward to continuing our relationship by highlighting some of the best the Big Ten Conference has to offer,” said BTN President François McGillicuddy.

DIRECTV will also utilize a number of creative assets as an official partner of the Big Ten Conference, including inventory on the Big Ten Network’s linear and digital platforms, as well as signage at the Big Ten Football Championship game, Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments and others.

All-Access content will be available on Big Ten Network’s X (formerly Twitter, @BigTenNetwork), Instagram (@BigTenNetwork), and Facebook, as well as DIRECTV’s X (formerly Twitter, @directv and @sportsondirectv), Instagram (@directv and @sportsondirectv), Facebook (@directv), and Tiktok (@directv).

Legends Global Partnerships, working in conjunction with DIRECTV, helped to negotiate the sponsorship agreement with the Big Ten Conference and Network.

Contacts: 

Pat Kenny

Big Ten Network

312-665-0713

pat.kenny@btn.com

Nick Ammazzalorso

DIRECTV

nicholas.ammazzalorso@directv.com

About DIRECTV

As a leader in sports and entertainment for almost 30 years, DIRECTV provides industry-leading content, service, and user satisfaction. By reimagining what is possible, DIRECTV’s mission is to aggregate, curate and deliver exceptional, innovative service to its customers. In 2023, DIRECTV elevated the customer experience by delivering Gemini, which can integrate customers’ content from their third-party platform subscriptions onto a single one-stop, digital experience. With DIRECTV, the sports season never ends, and customers are treated to broadcasts of several major sports, including the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and multiple domestic and international soccer leagues. DIRECTV provides customers the choice of watching sports, movies, and TV shows on their TVs at home or their favorite mobile devices via the DIRECTV app.

The Big Ten Conference (bigten.org) is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching, and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten Conference has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the value of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten Conference institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,800 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on more than 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten Conference sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013.

About The Big Ten Network

A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, Big Ten Network is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 2,200 live events across all platforms, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. The Fox Sports App is the digital extension of the Big Ten Network, delivering live games and on-demand programming to Big Ten Network customers via the web, smartphones, and tablets. Network events include football, men’s and women’s basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events, studio shows and classic games. With over 1,700 events annually, B1G+ is the subscription streaming service for thousands of live non-televised games, next day on-demand archives, 14 school channels programmed 24 hours a day and access to Big Ten Network’s library of previous season classics and original programming. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments from some of the nation’s finest universities, including the Emmy-nominated The Journey. The network is carried by all the major video distributors across the United States and Canada, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon Fios, Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum, Cox Contour TV, Mediacom, Astound Broadband and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. Big Ten Network is also available through the majority of streaming providers, including DIRECTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV. For additional information, please visit www.btn.com.