IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Athletics Department announced Thursday that the National Iowa Varsity Club has changed its name to the Iowa Letterwinners Club and that the organization will be led by executive director Broderick Binns and associate director Katie Brown Wynn.
“We appreciate the support and involvement of our letterwinners.” said Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta. “I am excited to see Broderick and Katie build on our successes and continue to keep our letterwinners engaged with our teams and department. It is a wonderful transition from the leadership Andy Piro (former executive director) provided as we shifted his responsibilities to focus on development.”
A four-year football letterwinner for the Hawkeyes, Binns will continue in his role as Assistant Athletics Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He previously held the position of director of football player development and served on the Iowa coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach.
“I am extremely excited and grateful to have the opportunity to continue the tradition of engaging our letterwinners at the highest level,” said Binns. “As a letterwinner, I know the importance of building positive relationships with our current and former student-athletes. We are fortunate to have an active letterwinner group that takes great pride in being a Hawkeye. ”
Brown Wynn, a four-year softball letterwinner from 2007-2010, is the Director of Iowa Athletics Annual Giving for the UI Center for Advancement. In her role, she is responsible for the growth of the department’s annual giving program and letterwinner engagement.
“As a softball letterwinner, I take great pride in honoring the legacy of Hawkeyes that have come before me,” said Brown Wynn. “I truly believe as former student-athletes we have a special connection to Iowa Athletics. We understand and can appreciate the journey of the current student-athletes, help open doors for their future endeavors and provide a community where Iowa letterwinners always feel they have a place to call home. Once a Hawkeye, always a Hawkeye.”
“We appreciate the support and involvement of our letterwinners. I am excited to see Broderick and Katie build on our successes and continue to keep our letterwinners engaged with our teams and department. It is a wonderful transition from the leadership Andy Piro (former executive director) provided as we shifted his responsibilities to focus on development.”
Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta.
Formerly known as the National Iowa Varsity Club, the leadership and advisory board recently approved the name change to the Iowa Letterwinners Club.
“It has been great working with Andy and he has done a wonderful job of moving the Varsity Club forward,” said Barb Randall, Co-Chair of the Iowa Letterwinners Club Advisory Board and 2017 Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame inductee. “I am excited about the new direction of the Iowa Letterwinners Club and think the name change will help clarify who we are. I look forward to working closely with Broderick and Katie as their direction will help us continue our progress.”
The Iowa Letterwinners Club’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the legacy of Iowa Athletics while directly supporting the efforts and activities of all Hawkeye student-athletes now and in the future.
“I think modernizing the logo is awesome and ties the past to the present with the Block I and Letterwinners designation,” said Lon Olenjniczak, Co-Chair of the Iowa Letterwinners Club Advisory Board. “I think it is great to work with leaders within the department who will lead the Letterwinners Club having previously walked in the shoes of our membership.”
More information on the Iowa Letterwinners Club can be found at www.jointheiclub.com/letterwinners.
