Volleyball – Our Program – University of Iowa Athletics

Our Program

As a member of the University of Iowa volleyball team, you will Elevate your game playing alongside the best volleyball players in the country in the best volleyball conference in the country. We Rise to any challenge we face because it’s never going to be easy to get to the top, but through determination and Grit you will become the best version of yourself on and off the court. This is Iowa volleyball.

OUR STAFF

HEAD COACH VICKI BROWN

Vicki Brown is entering her second season as head coach of the Hawkeyes.

Previously, Brown spent two seasons as Iowa’s associate head coach before taking over the program. Brown is a graduate of Illinois where she was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and amassed over 1,000 career kills.

ASSISTANT COACH BRE PAYTON

Bre Payton has been a member of the University of Iowa coaching staff since 2015, starting as the director of operations before being elevated to an assistant coach in March 2016.

Payton is the offensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes. Payton graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2012 and was a three-time All-American and three-time All-Conference honoree for the Panthers.

ASSISTANT COACH DAVE BROWN

Dave Brown was announced as the newest member of Iowa’s coaching staff on Jan. 21, 2020. Brown joins the Hawkeye staff after two seasons at Loyola Chicago when he was associate head coach/recruiting coordinator.

Brown helped the Ramblers establish a single-season record for conference wins (14) and most total wins since 2004 (21) in the 2019 campaign.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS EMILY SPARKS

Emily Sparks has been Iowa’s director of operations since 2016. Sparks joined the staff after two years as a staff member in the Iowa Athletic Department.

She has served as a learning assistant for Academic Services, a sports operations coordinator, and spent time working with the event management team since June of 2014.

STUDENT MANAGER LEXY LARSEN

Lexy Larsen is entering her fourth year as a student manager for the Iowa volleyball team. She is currently studying Finance and pursuing a minor in Sport and Recreation Management.

Larsen graduated from Sidney High School in Sidney, IA where she led the Cowgirls to the finals of it’s first state volleyball tournament appearance her senior year. She was named Captain of the All-Tournament Team, 1st Team All-State, and Class 1A Player of the Year.