Al Lorenzen, a household name among longtime University of Iowa fans, has found a new job that combines two things he is passionate about: sports and the city of Des Moines. On Feb. 26, the former Hawkeye basketball player left his job as director of business development at Fidelity Bank to become director of the Des Moines Area Sports Commission, a division of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau. The commission oversees management of big events such as the AAU Junior Olympics and assists in bringing sporting events to the area. Lorenzen said he expects his competitive nature and relationships in the community to be assets in his new   venture.

What attracted you to this job?

I knew Greg Edwards (president and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau) from back when I worked for Drake University as its director of external affairs. Greg was calling different people to ask who we thought would be good candidates for this job. In the course of the conversation, I decided to throw my hat in the ring as a candidate.

Did you have any hesitations about leaving banking?

I enjoyed working at Fidelity and helping to build a small company, but there was still a part of me that was engrained in sports administration. It’s hard to explain, but it gets in your blood. When I got an opportunity to talk with Greg about this job and learned that the vision of the group is to make the Des Moines area the premier destination for sporting events in this region, my excitement grew quickly.

What will your role be with the commission?

My focus is to build and strengthen relationships in Central Iowa, from the parks and recreation directors to the sporting venues, and to work with them on putting bids together. It’s also going to involve securing business partners, because we are going to need resources to bring events here that will have a financial impact on the community.

What kinds of events will you target?

Ones that will have an economic impact and enrich the community. There are so many options, from kids’ basketball to senior softball, Frisbee golf and on and on. I’m still in the learning mode, but I think there are some we can point to that will utilize our great facilities like the Iowa Events Center. It would be premature for me to say specifics.

What makes this job a good fit for you?

It blends two of my passions, sports and Des Moines, and that’s what’s going to make this job so enjoyable. To be good at anything, you have to believe in it. Being a former basketball player has nothing to do with this job. Working here is about bringing the energy and commitment to elevate sports to the next level in the community.

Do you plan to take an aggressive approach in this role?

A lot of hard work has gone on to bring events to Des Moines, and I don’t want to diminish that. But, everything that I have done in my life, I have done aggressively. That’s just part of who I am. So yeah, I will bring that competitive side.

What goals do you have for yourself?

I am going to work hard to raise the level of visibility and help build the brand of the Sports Commission, while working to put more “heads in beds,” as the industry saying goes.

What do you do outside work?

Broadcasting has become a big hobby for me. I do Drake basketball for Mediacom, and I started doing the boys’ high school state tournaments last year. I also do a weekly radio show on Thursdays on 98.3 (WOW-FM) with Tim Darrah called “Inside Hawkeye Sports.” It’s not your typical talk show. Instead of a call-in show, we focus on the human interest side of sports. I have a lot of fun with that.

What do you like about broadcasting?

When I was growing up, there were a lot of great sportscasters on TV, and I learned a lot about the game from watching them. I’m not just some has-been player who gets a kick out of seeing himself on TV. I feel passionate about doing a good job at covering the games because I realize the impact that can have on kids.

Do you still play basketball?

I really don’t, outside of playing with my 10-year-old daughter. The last time I laced up was for a charity event last year. I guess now that I’m 40, my perception of what is fun has changed. I’d rather be on the Stairmaster for an hour watching Sportscenter on ESPN than be playing.