Broderick Binns named Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for UI Athletics

In a press release earlier today, the University of Iowa named Broderick Binns the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for UI Athletics. It makes permanent the interim role he had when the position was created in August 2019.

Within the Hawkeye athletic department, few are as qualified as Binns. After rejoining the football team as a graduate assistant in 2014, he was named director of player development in April 2016. In a Hawk Central profile last summer, his role was described as “honorary older sibling” for new Hawkeyes. In it, he described his prior role as “what he was born to do.”

Now his focus will not be on just those on the football team but within the athletic department as a whole. This is particularly important because his new boss, associate AD Liz Tovar, is outside of the football infrastructure which should enable the athletic department to be more capable of addressing student-athlete complaints.

It marks another step the athletic department has made after player complaints of racially-based insensitivities led to the dismissal of strength and conditioning coordinator Chris Doyle, among other administrative changes.

As confirmed by Chad Leistikow, the move opens up the football team’s director of player development. Before Binns, it was occupied by Chic Ejiasi from 2008-2016.

Full details of the release below:

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Broderick Binns, a former University of Iowa football player who has served on the Hawkeye football staff for the past six years, has been named Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for UI Athletics. The announcement was made Friday by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta.

Binns was named director of player development for Iowa football in April, 2016. A four-year football letterman at Iowa, Binns served on the Iowa coaching staff as a graduate assistant coach in 2014 and 2015, assisting with Hawkeye special teams.

Along with his role with Iowa football, Binns played an instrumental role in spearheading the UI Athletics Diversity Taskforce, diversity initiatives for student-athletes, and educational trainings for coaches and staff over the past year. He was named Interim Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in August, 2019 when the position was created.

The position within UI Athletics reports to Liz Tovar, associate athletics director for student-athlete academic services. Binns will be responsible for assisting all Iowa student athletes (with an emphasis on underrepresented students) with making a smooth transition into college life socially, academically, and athletically; the implementation of diversity initiatives for student-athletes, coaches, and staff, and oversight of the UI Athletics Diversity Taskforce and Action Plan; ensuring that the strategic goals within the Action Plan are in alignment with campus-wide diversity policies and practices.

“Broderick has been involved in our program as a student-athlete or staff member the past 12 years,” said Barta. “His strong understanding of Hawkeye Athletics and the University of Iowa, combined with his passion for helping student-athletes grow and have a great experience, make him a perfect fit for this position.”

Binns earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in sport and recreation management, both from Iowa.

Binns enjoyed a very successful playing career as a defensive end for the Hawkeyes from 2008-11. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior and earned the Roy J. Carver Most Valuable Player Award for defense. He was a three-year member of the Iowa Leadership Group during his career.