Broderick Binns leaves Iowa Athletics after leading diversity, equity and inclusion efforts

Lew Montgomery to take on DEI role on interim basis while Iowa conducts search for Binns’ replacement

Feb. 8, 2022 3:24 pm, Updated: Feb. 9, 2022 2:17 pm

Broderick Binns

IOWA CITY — Broderick Binns, who has led Iowa Athletics’ efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion, accepted a new job outside of the university, the athletics department said Tuesday.

Binns, a former Iowa football player, had been Iowa’s assistant athletics director for DEI since 2019, first in an interim role and then permanently. He previously worked in the department as football director of player development since 2016 and as a graduate assistant coach in 2014 and 2015.

“I want to thank Broderick for his leadership and wish he and his family all the best in their next chapter,” Iowa athletics director Gary Barta said in a news release. “Fortunately, he is remaining in the community and has expressed his interest in staying engaged with our student-athletes and coaches.”

Lew Montgomery will lead the athletics department’s DEI efforts on an interim basis, according to the news release, while the department begins the search for Binns’ replacement.

“We are very excited to have someone with Lew’s extensive background and experience willing to step in and provide leadership,” Barta said.

Montgomery, who also is a former Iowa football player, has been working in the University of Iowa’s finance and operations department as the associate director for diversity, equity and inclusion and employment experience since 2021.

Before that, he worked at ACT, Alliant Energy and Coca-Cola, among other companies, in roles involving human resources and/or diversity.

“My goal is to impact a person's first impulse and help them be mindful of their thoughts and the potential impact of their actions,” Montgomery said in the news release. “Incidents will still occur, but we must continue to improve our institutional position in support of DE&I and use those incidents as teachable moments that influence and drive awareness, sensitivity and cultural change.”

Binns also was the executive director of the Iowa Letterwinners Club, which works to keep former Iowa letterwinners engaged with the university.