Athletics Stories & News

Panther Caravan

Panther Caravan returns to connect alumni and celebrate Panther athletics

Panther Caravan

The University of Northern Iowa’s Panther Caravan will be traveling around Iowa to connect with alumni and Panther fans May 9-12. 

Stops will include the Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. in Decorah on May 9, the Hall in West Des Moines on May 10, the Sioux City Convention Center in Sioux City on May 11 and Willow Ridge Golf Course in Fort Dodge on May 12. The events are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with a program at 6:45 p.m. at each stop.

Trevor Penning

UNI alum makes history as first-round NFL draft pick

Trevor Penning ('21) has made history as the first player from the University of Northern Iowa to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft.
practice football field at sunset

UNI’s outdoor football practice facility receives $2 million investment

This facility provides another practice space and in turn, creates more opportunities for other teams to share the UNI-Dome field.
UNI women's rugby team

Championship bound

The UNI women’s rugby club team has overcome COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, practice-field uncertainty and faster, downsized play to reach the Collegiate Rugby Championship games this weekend in New Orleans, forging everlasting friendships along the way.
NBA coach and UNI alum Nick Nurse

NBA coach Nick Nurse, a UNI alum, headlines Sunday virtual event

The University of Northern Iowa, in partnership with the University of Iowa, will host a virtual conversation Sunday with NBA coach Nick Nurse, a UNI Hall of Fame basketball star who led his Toronto Raptors to a 2019 championship.  

Nurse will discuss his rural Iowa upbringing, how he transitioned to find success throughout his career and the use of data analytics to drive decisions in the NBA. Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder, a UNI women's basketball standout and UNI Hall of Famer will host the virtual event from 2-3 p.m. April 25.

Nick Nurse

UNI to host virtual conversation with NBA championship coach Nick Nurse

The University of Northern Iowa, in partnership with the University of Iowa, will host a virtual conversation Friday with NBA coach Nick Nurse, a UNI Hall of Fame basketball star who led his Toronto Raptors to a 2019 championship.  

Nurse will discuss his rural Iowa upbringing, how he transitioned to find success throughout his career and the use of data analytics to drive decisions in the NBA. Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder, a UNI women's basketball standout and UNI Hall of Famer will host the virtual event from 2-3 p.m. April 25.

UNI Athletic Director David Harris

UNI's David Harris named an Athletics Director of the Year

UNI Director of Athletics David Harris has been named an Athletics Director of the Year for 2020-21 by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Harris is in his fifth year leading the departments and is one of four FCS Directors of Athletics to earn the ADOY honor for 2020-21. The other honorees are Wofford’s Richard Johnson, Princeton’s Mollie Marcoux Samaan and fellow Valley Football AD David Herbster from South Dakota.

UNI Athletics Director David Harris

UNI's David Harris named an Athletics Director of the Year

UNI Director of Athletics David Harris has been named an Athletics Director of the Year for 2020-21 by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

UNI football coach Mark Farley

Panthers win big

While many things were unusual about the past year in sports, UNI’s tradition of excellence on and off the playing field remains unchanged. 

UNI alum Jake Manternach

From UNI to the Super Bowl: Graphic design alum making his mark with NFL team

When Jake Manternach arrived at the University of Northern Iowa as a transfer student in 2015, he wasn’t aware that his current position as a graphic designer for the Super Bowl-bound Tampa Bay Buccaneers even existed.