DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS FOR IOWA (Odds)

Bob Bowlsby, in his 11th year as director of men's athletics at The University of Iowa, heads a team of coaches and athletic staff members that has led Iowa athletics to rank among the nation's best.

As the chief administrator for Iowa's men's athletic department Bowlsby has earned a reputation as one of the most highly-respected, energetic and ambitious athletic administrators in the nation. His hiring of new head coaches in football, basketball and wrestling, all in the past three years, will enable Iowa to maintain its standing as one of the most visible and successful Division I athletic programs.

A Waterloo native, Bowlsby became Iowa's 10th Athletic Director in June, 1991 after serving in the same role at the University of Northern Iowa since 1984. He previously served as Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities at Northern Iowa.

No KU ties, but Bowlsby does have a strong background as an athletic director given the success of Iowa football and basketball.

Bowlsby earned his bachelor's degree from Moorhead State University (Minnesota) in 1975 and his master's degree from the University of Iowa in 1978.

Bowlsby has served as chair of the Big Ten Championships and Awards committee, as a member of the league's Conference and National Structure committee and was appointed as one of two Big Ten representatives to the NCAA Management Council. Bowlsby was elected to chair the Management Council for the first two years of its existence.

Bowlsby managed five NCAA Wrestling Championships as chair of the Wrestling Committee and has served on NCAA committees on Financial Aid and Amateurism, the Special Committee to Review Amateurism Issues and the Special Committee to Review Financial Conditions in Athletics. Bob has served as an Executive Committee member with both the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association and will serve as President of the I-A Directors group during the 2001-02 school year.

This past summer Bowlsby began a four-year term on the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament Committee.

In 1995 he was elected chair of the NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee and represented the NCAA as one of two voting members on the United States Olympic Committee. Bowlsby also was appointed by former United States Olympic Committee President LeRoy Walker to the NCAA/USOC Liaison Committee, chaired by George Steinbrenner and NCAA Executive Director Cedrick Dempsey.

Bowlsby is a charter member of the Iowa Olympics Committee and a current member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Games. Bob is a board member of the Iowa Scholarship Fund, Inc. and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Jaycees Boss of the Year in 1986. He and his wife, Candice, have four children, Lisa, Matt, Rachel and Kyle. Bowlsby was born Jan. 10, 1952.

—Courtesy of Iowa Sports Information.