How Iowa’s Supporters are Helping Hawkeyes in the Revenue Share Era

Photo Submitted by Dan Pomeroy Dan Pomeroy (right) poses with his high school and college friend, Jerry Fleshner (80BSPh), at a recent Carroll Area I-Club event. Both Pomeroy and Fleshner became avid Iowa Hawkeye fans during their time as students—and they both went on to become pharmacists in western Iowa.

Dan Pomeroy (81BSPh) has been a diehard Hawkeye fan since he first stepped foot on the University of Iowa campus in 1975.

“It was pretty easy to get drawn in with the likes of Hayden Fry, Lute Olson, and Dan Gable coaching football, men’s basketball, and wrestling,” says Pomeroy, who has called Coon Rapids, Iowa, home for more than 40 years. “I had season tickets for all three sports.”

Since then, the retired pharmacist and high school umpire and referee has supported Iowa Athletics through his season tickets, contributions to the I-Club, and volunteerism with his local Carroll Area I-Club.

“For me, giving back started with my season ticket donation for seats in Kinnick Stadium and Carver-Hawkeye Arena,” says Pomeroy. “Over the past four decades, I’ve become great friends with the I-Club and athletics staff—and I’ve gotten to understand the importance of giving back and how that positively impacts our Hawkeye student-athletes and their success.”

While Pomeroy continues to support the Hawkeyes, fans have a new way to get involved and advance Iowa’s competitive success.

Photo Submitted by Dan Pomeroy Dan Pomeroy (right) with fellow baseball umpire Jim Molitor. Pomeroy—who is in the Iowa High School Baseball Hall of Fame and Iowa High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame—got interested in officiating after taking a class from Warren Slebos (68MA) at Iowa. Says Pomeroy: “I got hooked, and after graduation, I officiated high school football and basketball games and high school and college baseball. The love for officiating, for me, was mostly the many friendships I continue to make with coaches and players.”

Changing the Game: The House Settlement

The House vs. NCAA settlement, which was approved in June 2025, was a watershed moment and changed how college athletics handled student-athlete compensation.

Since then, schools that opt into the House settlement can pay student-athletes a share of revenue—capped at 22% of the average Power Five conference athletic revenue. Revenue comes from a number of avenues, including media rights deals, ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Student-athletes can also receive financial support through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and university scholarships.

For the 2025–26 academic year, University of Iowa Athletics will provide the settlement maximum of $20.5 million to its student-athletes—with that number expected to rise annually. Iowa Athletics is using Venmo to pay student-athletes, with many Hawkeyes having one-year deals.

“Revenue sharing is now part of college athletics and Big Ten women’s basketball, and that’s not changing,” says Jan Jensen, the P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “While the game continues to change, our student-athletes continue to value what we offer here at Iowa—a strong culture of academic and athletic success.”

Beth Goetz, Iowa’s Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair, says that revenue-sharing distribution will vary across programs—with priority given to those generating the most revenue. This strategy aims to help the Hawkeyes attract elite talent while supporting NIL opportunities for all student-athletes as they develop their personal brands.

“We’ve worked closely with all of our coaches to ensure that top student-athletes continue to choose Iowa,” says Goetz. “Our commitment remains strong—to provide an environment where student-athletes can compete for championships while earning a degree.”

While Iowa Athletics does not use general university funds and relies on TV and ticket revenue—as well as donations—to fund much of its budget, sharing revenue with student-athletes is a new expense. In light of the House settlement, Iowa Athletics has developed a plan to maintain its self-sustaining athletic program and keep its 22 sports teams competitive in the Big Ten Conference and beyond.

Flight Funds: Iowa’s Approach to Revenue Share

In partnership with the UI Center for Advancement, Iowa Athletics created Flight Funds—which is another path for Hawkeye fans and friends to support revenue share efforts. Donors can bolster Iowa’s efforts to pay student-athletes and produce championship-caliber programs by giving to the:

• Football Flight Fund
• Men’s Basketball Flight Fund
• Men’s Wrestling Flight Fund
• Women’s Basketball Flight Fund
• Iowa Athletics General Flight Fund, which supports the most pressing needs of all Hawkeye sports

Hawkeye fans have been eager to support championship teams. Within the first seven months of launching Flight Funds, donors gave several millions in cash to support Iowa's revenue sharing efforts for the 2025–26 season.

“Revenue share is something Iowa is doing to remain competitive, and it’s also something that student-athletes deserve,” says Pomeroy, who is supporting the Iowa Athletics General Flight Fund. “Donating to the Flight Funds helps both of those things happen. Good Hawkeye fans should—and I believe they will—support these efforts.”

Pomeroy hopes his giving fuels continued success in a university that brings him so much pride.

“I bleed black and gold,” says Pomeroy. “I’m so proud of not just our athletic success but our entire university—whether it’s UI Health Care, Hancher Auditorium, or our recent national championship debate team. I love the University of Iowa and our Hawkeyes, and I’m proud to support them.”

Help Hawkeyes Take Flight

Support your favorite University of Iowa Athletics program today by contributing to the Flight Funds. Your support is tax deductible and counts toward athletic ticket priority points.