In the heart of Ames, Iowa, a group of entrepreneurs are reshaping the way communities engage with high school sports. Meet the founders of Bound, a company that’s become the go-to resource for tracking high school athletics in the state of Iowa and beyond. Through their innovative approach, Bound has connected coaches, athletes, and fans in a way that wasn’t possible before.
The Beginnings of Varsity Bound
Varsity Bound, as it was originally known, was founded in 2018 by Rob Lynch, Tom Lynch, Sam Schill, Brian Capesius, Nathan Haila, and Todd Lawler. This founding team was the same group responsible for creating Tourney Machine, which was acquired by Sports Illustrated (Time, Inc.) in 2016.
Tourney Machine offered a web-based way for youth sports organizers to run and manage tournaments. The founders said they started the company after dealing with their own frustrations and obstacles, such as a lack of communication, when taking their kids to tournaments. They saw first-hand the challenges coaches and parents faced in tracking schedules, scores, and stats for local high school sports teams. Sports Illustrated (SI) had a similar product at the time, but the acquisition helped SI offer tournament-specific tools to its customers.
Before founding Bound, the Lynch brothers established QuikStats Iowa in 2010, a platform that has served sports communities across Iowa. This experience, combined with the success of Tourney Machine, laid a solid foundation for their next venture.
Bound provides a vertical software solution designed to assist schools, school districts, state associations, sports clubs, and tournament organizers in managing all aspects of their events and activities. The platform also connects parents, athletes, and fans, streamlining the overall process of event organization.
“We wanted to create something that connected everyone involved in high school sports, from coaches and players to parents and fans,” says Sam Schill, CEO of Bound. “At the time, there wasn’t a comprehensive resource for tracking sports information across the state, so we decided to build one.”
How Bound Works
Bound allows high schools to easily manage their athletic programs by inputting team schedules, player stats, and scores, making it simple for fans and families to stay up to date on their favorite teams. Coaches and athletic directors are able to input game results and follow athletes’ progress, while parents can get real-time updates on their children’s games. The platform also offers a website for each high school sports program, allowing schools to promote their teams and improve engagement with their communities.
But Bound is not just for those who are directly involved in sports. It is also a treasure trove for fans and alumni. With team schedules, scores, and stats at their fingertips, users can easily follow teams throughout the season and relive memorable moments from the games.
In 2021, Bound partnered with the Iowa High School Athletic Association, extending their relationship that began with QuikStats Iowa. In a press release at the time, Schill said, “We are excited to be deepening our partnership with IHSAA, building software that helps bring our communities and state together around high school sports.”
A Focus on Innovation
What sets Bound apart is its constant drive to innovate. The founding team has always been committed to ensuring the platform is easy to use while staying ahead of the curve in technology. They’re consistently listening to feedback from users and making adjustments to improve the platform.
In 2020, Varsity Bound launched a mobile app that allows users to access all the information they need on the go. This move was a response to the increasing reliance on smartphones for daily activities and a clear step toward making the platform even more accessible.
“We knew people were increasingly relying on their phones, and we wanted to make it easy for anyone to access our platform anytime, anywhere,” says Nathan Haila, Head of Product for Bound. “The app is just one example of how we’ve continued to evolve.”
A Growing Impact
What started as a small venture in Ames has grown into a statewide tool that benefits thousands of coaches, athletes, and fans. Bound now supports over 300 high schools across Iowa and has expanded its reach to include schools in 14 different states. As a result, it has fostered a closer connection between communities and their high school athletic programs, enhancing the fan experience and elevating the role of high school sports in the local culture.
As Bound continues to grow, the founding team remains focused on their mission to provide value to the communities they serve. They are working on developing new features that will help schools connect with potential recruits, streamline the coaching process, and expand their reach to even more states.
“We’re excited for what’s next,” says Schill. “Our goal has always been to create a lasting impact on high school sports and make it easier for everyone to be a part of that experience.”
With their commitment to innovation, community engagement, and improving the experience of high school sports, the entrepreneurs behind Bound have built something truly special here in Ames. Their journey proves that with passion, dedication, and a focus on solving real problems, anything is possible. And in the world of high school sports, Bound has undoubtedly changed the game.
Learn more about Bound online at: www.gobound.com
