Homecoming came early for new director of athletics
 In May, Troy Dannen ’89 was named UNI’s director of athletics. He became the school’s fifth director of athletics since UNI turned Division I in 1980.
Although he’s been off campus for nearly 20 years, he has maintained close ties with the school, and was offered his dream job last spring.
“The University of Northern Iowa has been a significant part of my personal life since I arrived on campus as a freshman in 1985,” Dannen said. “The opportunity to extend that relationship professionally is a dream come true.”
Before his return to UNI, Dannen spent six years as executive director of the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU). As the governing body for high school sports in the state of Iowa, the IGHSAU oversees nearly 400 schools and more than 70,000 students, in the 11 sports offered by the union.
Dannen believes that the Panther athletic department should value excellence in all endeavors, with its primary objective being personal development and growth of its student-athletes. He believes in achieving that objective by focusing on the core educational mission of the university and ensuring the department acts with integrity and in a fiscally responsible manner.
Dannen, 41, received his bachelor’s degree in public relations with a minor in journalism from UNI in 1989. He and his wife, Lori, have two daughters, Emily and Holly.
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Home Suite Home
Opportunities to watch the Panthers play in style opened this fall with a gift from Peters Construction Corporation.
Peters Construction added eight suites to UNI’s McLeod Center’s west side upper concourse. Each suite contains 12 to 16 theater-style seats as well as a hospitality area.
Peters Construction began development of the suites this fall and donated those suites to the university in time for the Panthers’ winter sports seasons.
“My wife, Cindy, and I have been huge fans of Panther athletics and we realized this was a way to give back and see UNI athletics continue to grow,” said Dave Peters, president of Peters Construction Corporation and a member of the UNI Alumni Association Board of Directors.
“We enjoy one of the best venues in the Missouri Valley Conference, and thanks to the Peters’ gift, that venue becomes even better,” said Troy Dannen, UNI director of athletics. “The addition of suites to the McLeod Center provides great opportunity for the university and symbolizes the commitment of Panther supporters toward our programs. We are grateful to Dave and Cindy and the entire Peters organization for their passion for UNI.”
To complement the addition in the McLeod Center, the university constructed three suites in the west side of the UNI-Dome that opened this fall. |
UNI student-athletes excel in classroom
More than half of UNI’s student-athletes earned a GPA of 3.0 or better during the spring 2008 semester.
“Intercollegiate athletics exist to supplement the educational experience our students obtain at the University of Northern Iowa,” said UNI Director of Athletics Troy Dannen. “The successes shown by our student-athletes on the field, court, track and pool earn great accolades. But ultimately, the greatest success we can claim at the University of Northern Iowa is achievement shown in the classroom, as our student-athletes prepare themselves for a lifetime of success.”
In addition to the 3.04 average GPA, nearly one-fourth of UNI’s student-athletes earned a place on the dean’s list. Ninety-eight Panthers made the list, which requires students to be enrolled full time and earn a GPA of 3.5 or better. These students have majors spread across all disciplines, in all five of UNI’s undergraduate colleges: Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Geopfert leads UNI track and field, cross country teams
Travis Geopfert was named head track and field/cross country coach for the Panthers this summer.
Geopfert, who was an All-American and a 2002 graduate of UNI, was a Pan ther assistant coach for five seasons, overseeing the jumpers and multi-event student-athletes. He was promoted to associate head coach following the 2007 season. In 2008, Geopfert was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Midwest Region men’s assistant coach of the year. Prior to his return to UNI, Geopfert served as assistant track and field coach at Central Missouri.
Originally from Panora, Iowa, Geopfert earned his bachelor’s degree from UNI in 2002. He is currently finishing his master’s degree in coaching. He and his wife, Nicole, a first-grade teacher at Price Laboratory School, reside in Cedar Falls.
“This (UNI) is a very special place to me,” Geopfert said. “We have a terrific group of student-athletes who I love to work with. That coupled with the support we have from the university as a whole, the administration and the entire Cedar Valley makes this one of the best track and field jobs in the country.”
Under Geopfert’s guidance, the Panthers have taken the Missouri Valley Conference by storm in the multi-events and jumps. Geopfert mentored three-time MVC decathlon champion, Raven Cepeda. Under Geopfert’s guidance Cepeda became the first Valley athlete to win four indoor heptathlon titles. Geopfert recently coached Cepeda and Mat Clark in the decathlon at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.
UNI hires senior associate athletic director
 Jean Berger, who has more than 20 years of college athletic administrative experience, was hired this fall as senior associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at UNI.
“The University of Northern Iowa is pleased to attract a strong administrator like Jean who can step in immediately to help support and enhance our student-athletes and their programs,” Dannen said. “She has established a national presence during her career, and with 18 years of experience in the Missouri Valley Conference, she knows and understands UNI as well as our peer institutions. We are looking forward to her leadership in our department.”
In her role at UNI, Berger will have direct oversight of seven Panther women’s sports. She also will be responsible for implementing and monitoring gender equity plans; assisting with marketing and budgeting of assigned programs; and providing support to the athletic compliance office and athletic academic advising.
“I’m excited to be joining the dedicated coaches, administrators and student-athletes at UNI,” Berger said. “I’m looking forward to being part of the very special future of Panther athletics.”
Before coming to UNI, Berger worked for more than 17 years at Drake University, including serving as senior woman administrator the past 14 years. Berger began working with the Bulldogs in 1991 as an assistant sports information director. In 1994 she took over as senior woman administrator and assistant athletic director for internal affairs, and in 2005 she was promoted to senior associate athletic director.
Berger attended the University of Iowa, and she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and her master’s degree in physical education and sports studies. She is a native of Winterset, Iowa, and has two daughters, Jessica and Jenna.
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