William Thrall

For more than 30 years, William “Bill” Thrall helped shape the foundation of Panther athletics — not from the sidelines, but through visionary leadership that transformed the University of Northern Iowa’s athletic and academic programs. 

Thrall served for over three decades at UNI, helping to organize and lead the athletic department to what it is today.

Thrall joined the faculty at UNI as an assistant professor of physical education in 1960. He then became a full professor and the department head of UNI’s Department of Physical Education for Men in 1970. 

With the founding leadership of Thrall, the School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services (HPELS) was organized under the university’s College of Education in 1978. He was also a key voice in the decision to separate the Department of Physical Education for men from what became the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, which created the opportunity for UNI to move from Division ll to Division I.

Thrall was responsible for providing insight in the recruitment and selection of administrators, coaches and other department staff under HPELS. He also played a large part in establishing and hiring coaches in new sports clubs at UNI, such as swimming and gymnastics.

From 1979 to 1990, Thrall served as the founding director of HPELS. During this time, the structure and initial conceptual plans were established for the Wellness & Recreation Center on campus. Thrall and the head of the Department of Physical Education for Women, Elinor A. Crawford, developed the Hall of Excellence to recognize former HPELS graduates who had distinguished themselves professionally. 

Thrall was appointed by two different governors to serve on the Iowa Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He was also the president of the Iowa Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, now called SHAPE Iowa.

He served eight years on the university’s Athletic Council and one year on the Athletic Advisory Council before retiring in 1991. Thrall was inducted into the UNI Hall of Fame in 2022.