Iowa AD responds to field hockey team's statement

Iowa fired field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum on Aug. 5 and tabbed Lisa Cellucci as interim coach. In response to the dismissal, the players released a statement in support of Griesbaum. Iowa AD Gary Barta has responded to the statement, and you can read his response in this post.

Read Barta's full response below:

?I have been made aware of, and have read, the statement of support for coach Griesbaum released by our current field hockey team.

This has been an emotional process and period of time for everyone involved? including, and especially for, our student-athletes.

The women in our program have been very respectful and professional in several meetings with me and my staff.  While I don?t agree with everything in their statement, I do respect and appreciate the decision to support their former coach and their desire to publicly express it as a team.

As a program, we have focused the past several days on moving forward.  I?m pleased with the student-athletes? expressed commitment to Iowa field hockey and their dedication to prepare for a successful 2014 season.?

The Hawkeyes open the season Aug. 30 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge against Wake Forest in Chapel Hill, North Carolina