ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — Former Lewis University two-sport student-athlete and New Zealand World Cup goalkeeper Jenny (Bourn) Bindon has been selected for induction into the 40th Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame class.
Before joining the Flyers, Bindon played soccer, basketball and tennis at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She also completed four years of service in the United States Coast Guard as a physical fitness instructor in Cape May, New Jersey. After serving her country, Bindon continued her education and athletic career at Lewis University, competing for the Flyers from 1998-2001 in both women's soccer and basketball.
Bindon made an impact in multiple roles on the soccer pitch, splitting time between goalkeeper and forward. In her first season, she appeared in all 16 matches, contributing two goals and five points as a field player. Her leadership extended beyond the field, as she served as team captain during the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 seasons and earned Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference recognition in both soccer and basketball. In her lone year with the basketball program, Bindon appeared in 22 games during the 1998-99 campaign and helped the Flyers finish with a 17-10 overall record. On the pitch, Bindon made more than 30 appearances with the women's soccer program and earned the Coaches Award as well.
(Bindon is pictured in the back row, wearing number 18)
After graduating from Lewis, Bindon went on to represent New Zealand internationally. She competed in the 2007 and 2011 FIFA World Cups, starting every match in both competitions. Throughout her career, she accumulated 77 international appearances and reached a historic milestone in 2011 by becoming the first New Zealand women's goalkeeper to earn 50 caps. She reached the milestone in a match against France at the Cyprus Cup.
Bindon's connection to New Zealand began at Lewis, where she met her husband, Grant Bindon, a former captain of the New Zealand men's national volleyball team who competed for the Flyers during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. After they married, the couple relocated to New Zealand, where Jenny continued her soccer career. The Belleville, Illinois, native played for several New Zealand clubs, including Three Kings United, Glenfield Rovers, Bay Olympic and Hibiscus Coast.
(Bindon representing New Zealand at the World Cup)
Following her playing career, Bindon transitioned into coaching, working with UCLA, Loyola Marymount, CalTech, the London City Lionesses and the New Zealand women's national team. During her time with UCLA, she helped lead the Bruins to consecutive Final Four appearances in 2018 and 2019. With CalTech in 2022, Bindon was a member of the coaching staff that earned Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Coaching Staff of the Year accolades under head coach Jen Clark. She currently serves as a England Coach Educator with The Football Association.
In 2026, Bindon made soccer history alongside her son, Tyler, when his World Cup debut for New Zealand made them the first mother-son duo to compete in FIFA World Cups, a milestone confirmed by FIFA.
The annual Flyer Red Dinner is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2027, on campus at the Flight Deck in St. Charles Borromeo Hall. The dinner serves as a fundraising event to benefit Lewis Athletics while also recognizing the 2027 Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame class.
To register for the event, use the link at the top of the article. For more information about the event, please reach out to Krysten McGee (kmcgee2@lewisu.edu).
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