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IOWA CITY, Iowa – – The University of Iowa Athletics Department has named Vicki Brown as head volleyball coach, effective immediately, removing her status as interim head coach. The announcement was made Thursday by Gary Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. Brown has agreed in principle on terms to a five-year contract, which is expected to be finalized and signed in the very near future.
“I have been incredibly impressed with Vicki’s leadership with each passing day,” Said Barta. “As our interim head coach, Vicki successfully moved us through a challenging period during the off season and more recently through non-conference play. Vicki has earned this opportunity as our head coach, and I am excited for her to lead our volleyball program in the years ahead.”
Brown, a native of Toledo, Ohio, joined the Hawkeye staff in 2017 as associate head coach in charge of Iowa’s defensive and recruiting efforts. Brown helped the Hawkeyes bring in the nation’s 24th-ranked recruiting class for the 2019 season – the program’s highest recruiting rank in program history.
In her interim role, Brown and the Hawkeyes posted a 6-5 record in the nonconference season, including a sweep of No. 22 Washington State on Aug. 31 for Iowa’s first win over a ranked opponent on the road since 2012.
“I am truly thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to continue to lead this group of young women and represent this great university,” said Brown. “I can’t thank Gary Barta and Barbara Burke enough for their support and belief in what we are doing. The department has shown so much support, and I am looking forward to the future of this program.”
Prior to joining Iowa’s staff, Brown spent one season as head coach of both the indoor and beach volleyball teams at the University of San Francisco. Brown also served on the staff at UC Davis from 2014-15, where she worked as the recruiting coordinator and organized team travel.
Prior to her time with the Aggies, Brown spent two years under Melissa Myers at Illinois State, helping the Redbirds to a combined 37-25 record. Her primary duties included defensive strategy, scouting, and recruiting. Brown also worked with the Redbird middles. In 2013, under Brown’s tutelage, Emily Schneider and LeighAnn Hranka ranked among the top three MVC leaders in blocks, and the Illinois State defense led the conference with a .153 opposing attack average.
Preceding her stint with the Redbirds, Brown served as a volunteer assistant at Toledo, where she worked with the opposites, liberos, and defensive specialists. She also served as the head coach for the Toledo Volleyball Club 14s and 15s squad, becoming the leading expert in implementing training ideas for all other age-group coaches.
Along with a budding coaching resume, Brown’s prowess as a player allowed her to enjoy a professional career with stops in Austria, Puerto Rico, and Spain. As a collegian at Illinois, Brown earned All-Big Ten honorable mention twice as a middle blocker, ranking among the league’s top 10 hitters in each of her final two seasons. For her career, she amassed more than 1,000 career kills, broke the century mark in blocks for three straight years, and took home six tournament MVP honors before graduating in 2008 with a degree in communications.
The Hawkeyes open Big Ten play this weekend against Northwestern on Friday and No. 20 Illinois on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. (CT). Iowa returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena Oct. 2 to face No. 7 Minnesota at 6 p.m. The match will air live on the Big Ten Network.
