IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Athletics Department, in collaboration with Altius Sports Partners (ASP), announces the appointment of Scott Brickman as ASP General Manager for NIL/Strategy and Operations. Brickman, co-founder and former EVP and Chief Operating Officer of the Iowa Swarm Collective, is set to receive training and guidance from ASP while aligning his mission with Iowa Athletics to serve all athletes.
In his new position, Brickman will oversee all aspects of the school’s NIL FLIGHT program, including education for internal and external stakeholders, strategic guidance, and initiatives to maximize NIL opportunities for Hawkeye athletes. He will collaborate with the athletics department to develop diverse programs and resources supporting Hawkeye athletes in building their personal brands both within and outside the athletic arena. Additionally, Brickman will promote NIL opportunities to the wider Iowa City business community.
Before he co-founded the Iowa Swarm Collective, Brickman spent five years serving as the UI Director of Development for Athletics. In this role, he acted as a campaign director and played a key role in securing transformative gifts that enhanced the overall experience for Hawkeye athletes. Iowa Athletics introduced its comprehensive NIL program, FLIGHT, over two years ago, in collaboration with INFLCR, providing tools for success in the NIL era for all Hawkeye athletes.
“Having Scott on-site is fantastic as we work collaboratively to help our athletes seize opportunities and connect with Iowa supporters. The partnership with Altius Sports brings numerous benefits to Iowa, and we’re excited about Scott opening opportunities for all student-athletes in their NIL pursuits, making a positive impact both on and off the field.
Beth Goetz, interim Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair
“The Hawkeyes are in my blood, and I am thrilled to be part of Altius Sports, continuing to contribute to the incredible success of the Iowa Athletics department. In this dynamic time in college sports, I am focused on helping our athletes to profit from their NIL while providing them with everything they need for success in both sport and life. I look forward to contributing to their personal and professional growth through the NIL program while collaborating with Iowa’s leadership,” said Brickman.
Added Matt Henderson, Deputy Director of Athletics, Revenue and External Relations: “We are excited to have Scott lead our department’s NIL team. His experience working with student-athletes, coaches, fans and sponsors makes him a great fit for this position. Many of our student-athletes are involved in NIL activities and we look forward to providing the additional support necessary to increase those opportunities.”
Born and raised in Iowa, Brickman received a baseball scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa. After graduation, he spent 18 years coaching baseball at the collegiate level, achieving conference championships, top 25 rankings, and NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2017, he played a pivotal role in leading the University of Iowa baseball program to a Big Ten Championship and its second NCAA tournament appearance in three years.
“Following a comprehensive search, bringing Scott on board is the successful outcome we were aiming for. His role at Iowa aligns with our mission to amp up student-athlete empowerment and drive the NIL rights agenda forward. With Scott’s background in college athletics, his strong business acumen, and his current role working alongside Iowa with the Swarm, we have found the perfect fit to elevate Iowa’s NIL program,” said Celine Mangan, Director, ASP College.
Launched in July 2022, the ASP NIL GM Program offers centralized NIL support services for 16 schools, providing customized education to navigate the changing NIL landscape. With trained ASP personnel stationed on campus, the program ensures student-athletes have the tools and resources to make informed decisions about their NIL opportunities, covering national issues such as licensing, sponsorship, agents, employment, labor, collective bargaining, Title IX, and other impending concerns.
About Iowa Athletics
The Hawkeyes have sustained success both in competition and in the classroom over the years. Most recently, Iowa teams advanced to postseason competition in three fall sports: Field Hockey, Football and Women’s Soccer. Field Hockey was the top-ranked team in the country for multiple weeks and qualified for its Big Ten-best 28th NCAA Tournament in 2023. Women’s Soccer won three matches in three days to capture the 2023 Big Ten Tournament and won its first NCAA Tournament contest in program history in November. The nationally-ranked Football squad won 10 regular season games and advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game. The No. 17 Hawkeyes will face 21st-ranked Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024, in Orlando. Men’s Cross Country had an individual qualifier for the NCAA Championships.
As winter sports have just begun and spring sports not far behind, many Hawkeye teams are eager to build on success from last season. Women’s Basketball advanced to the national championship game last April. Caitlin Clark was the recipient of the 2023 Honda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, AAU Sullivan Award, Jesse Owens Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year Award and was the unanimous national player of the year in women’s basketball; Wrestling finished runner-up at the 2023 NCAA Championships; Women’s Gymnastics made another NCAA regional appearance; Baseball advanced to the NCAA regional finals and tied for the most wins in program history; Softball won the 2023 National Invitational Softball Championships; Women’s Golf finished runner-up at the National Golf Invitational and Rowing ended and the season ranked 20th in the CRCA Pocock Final Poll for the first time since 2019.
Academically, Hawkeye student-athletes have had an average GPA of over 3.0 the last nine years. Nearly 300 Iowa student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition for the 2022-23 school year, including 73 Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholars. Over 370 student-athletes earned Dean’s List and President’s List honors over both semesters in 2022-23.
About Altius Sports Partners
Since its inception in 2020, Altius Sports Partners (“Altius” or “ASP”) has become a leading advisor to elite collegiate athletics programs. Altius provides comprehensive solutions to elevate industry standards and promote excellence through its network of more than 35 Division I athletics departments, including nearly half of the Power Five institutions. ASP College offers strategic consulting services and an on-campus GM Program, featuring education, resources, and staffing for the evolving college sports landscape, including NIL. Altius has on-campus personnel at 16 institutions, and the GM Program, now including an Athlete Services Division, is considered the industry standard. In addition to NIL, Altius offers guidance on various complex issues, including licensing, sponsorship, agent relations, employment, labor, collective bargaining, and Title IX. ASP Brands facilitates collaboration between brands and athletes, executing national NIL campaigns. Altius’s reach extends through strategic partnerships with organizations like Women Leaders in Sports, the NFL, the NFL Players Association, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, and the NBC Sports Group. Altius’s distinguished advisory board of notable figures in the sports industry including Jessica Mendoza, Kenneth Shropshire, Renie Anderson, Malcolm Turner, Jene Elzie, and Michael Lynch, along with Altius Chairman Oliver Luck, CEO and Founding Partner Casey Schwab, Founding Partner and Media Expert John Entz, and Educational Consultant and Legal Expert Gabe Feldman. To learn more, visit altiussportspartners.com.