Iowa volleyball officially names Vicki Brown as head coach

After being named interim head coach on May 20, Vicki Brown is now staying in an official role.

Iowa+interim+head+coach+Vicki+Brown+instructs+her+players+during+a+volleyball+match+between+Iowa+and+Washington+at+Carver+Hawkeye+Arena+on+Saturday%2C+September+7%2C+2019.+The+Hawkeyes+were+defeated+by+the+Huskies%2C+3-1.

Megan Nagorzanski

Iowa interim head coach Vicki Brown instructs her players during a volleyball match between Iowa and Washington at Carver Hawkeye Arena on Saturday, September 7, 2019. The Hawkeyes were defeated by the Huskies, 3-1.

Anna Kayser, Sports Editor

Iowa athletic director Gary Barta announced on Thursday that, effective immediately, Vicki Brown will serve as head volleyball coach under a five-year contract.

After former head coach Bond Shymansky was placed on administrative leave on May 20 following allegations of NCAA violations, Brown was named the interim head coach and served under that role through the start of the season.

She first joined the Hawkeye volleyball staff in 2017 as the associate head coach and was mainly in charge of recruiting. Through the non-conference schedule of the 2019 season, the Hawkeyes are 6-5 under her watch and have a win over No. 22 Washington State.

“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.”

Brown has served as volleyball head coach at the University of San Francisco and as part of the staffs at UC Davis, Illinois State and Toledo.