UNI recognized David Peters as the recipient of the Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award for his dedication and efforts in support of UNI athletics.  Peters Construction has been extremely supportive of UNI athletics through the years, building the Human Performance Center, Football Offices, Football Locker Room, Athletics Administrative Offices, McLeod Center Suites, and the McLeod Center Ticket Office.  His generous donations through the years have included the McLeod Center Leadership Gift, McLeod Center Suites, Football Lockers, Football Inner Circle, Basketball Inner Circle, Football Filming Towers, and the Panther Wrestling Club.  He and his wife, Cindy, have been Platinum and Diamond level members in the Panther Scholarship Club. 

Ryan Brunner was a first-team All-American as a senior on the UNI baseball team in 2001.  He earned MVC Freshman of the Year honors in 1998 as well as a three-time all-MVC pick at three different positions (1B, OF, DH).  Brunner took home UNI's Outstanding Senior Male Athlete and MVC Player of the Year in 2001.  Brunner closed his career with UNI records for at-bats (801), hits (285), runs (185), home runs (59), RBI (226), total bases (526), and putouts (1,213).  Brunner reached base 94 consecutive games and 131 of his 132 career games.  Brunner earned third-team Academic All-America honors in 2001 with a 3.37 GPA while majoring in mathematics. 

UNI head football coach Mark Farley was inducted into the hall of fame for his efforts not only as a student-athlete but as a coach as well.  Farley walked on to the UNI football team in the fall of 1982 and has been a staple in the UNI football program ever since.  Farley earned honorable mention All-America honors twice, was named Gateway Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year, and was selected as a team co-captain.  UNI compiled a 27-7-1 record and advanced to the 1985 FCS semifinals during Farley's playing career.  Upon the completion of his playing days, Farley became a graduate assistant, was promoted to assistant coach, and then took over the head coaching position in 2001.  In his 12 years at the helm of the program, UNI has posted a 100-41 mark including a national title game appearance in 2005. 

Dennis Roloff was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American for the UNI track & field squad.  He was a three-time outdoor conference champion in the 440-yard dash.  He set 11 school records in his time at UNI, including a clocking of 46.23 in the 400.  That mark stood for 28 years before Joey Woody bested it.  Roloff went on to coach at HLV-Victor, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, and Cedar Rapids Kennedy.  Roloff is also a member of the state of Iowa's High School Hall of Fame. 

Amy Swisher is UNI's all-time leading scorer in women's basketball with 1,851 points.  Swisher played for UNI from 2000-04.  In 118 games Swisher made 726 field goals, a UNI career record.  Swisher averaged 15.7 points per game over her UNI career, ranking her third all-time in school history.  Swisher holds the fourth-best single-game scoring effort with a 36 point outburst against Bradley.  Swisher tallied 13 games of 25 or more points in her Panther career.  At the conclusion of her career, Swisher had set school records for games played (118), and minutes played (3,676). 

Deb Vangellow was a member of the UNI track & field team from 1981-85.  She served as a team captain and earned letters in each season she competed.  After her track and field career ended Vangellow became the golf coach at UNI in 1991.  She went on to work with the Japanese corporate sponsored "Superlady" project/Kathy Whitworth Golf Academy (TX), the Heritage School of Golf at Old Orchard Golf Club, the NIKE Junior Golf Camp at Pebble Beach, and Pine Forest Country Club among others.  Vangellow was named one of Golf Digest Magazine's "America's 50 Best Women Teachers", the LPGA's "Top 50 Teachers", GOLF Magazine's "Top Regional Teachers", Golf Digest Magazine's "Top Regional Teachers", and US Kids Golf "Top 50 Kids Teachers".  Vangellow was honored as a recipient of the "Young Alumni Award" at UNI and was named the LPGA's Central Section Teacher of the Year in 2002, 2009, and 2012.  Vangellow is the first-ever National Vice-President for the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Membership and a lead instructor in the LPGA National Education Program, the industry leading teacher training program for golf professionals. 

The 2001 women's volleyball squad posted a mark of 31-2 overall and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.  UNI scored triumphs over No. 3 Wisconsin and No. 19 Notre Dame in the regular season.  The Panthers went on to finish with a league mark of 17-1 and a Missouri Valley Conference league and tournament championship.  UNI hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history and the Panthers didn't disappoint.  UNI disposed of Northern Illinois in the first round with a 3-0 sweep and then found themselves down two games to none against the University of Minnesota.  Behind a ferocious rally, the Panthers came roaring back to take games three and four, and then went on to beat the Gophers 17-15 in the decisive fifth set.  Molly O'Brien was named the MVC Player of the Year.  O'Brien was joined on the first-team all-MVC squad by Jill Arganbright, Kim Kester, and Kim McCaffrey.  McCaffrey and O'Brien each tallied AVCA All-District accolades as well.  Head coach Bobbi Petersen earned AVCA District Coach of the Year honors in her first season at the helm of the Panthers. 

Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Inductees:

Ryan Brunner

Mark Farley

Dennis Roloff

Amy Swisher

Deb Vangellow

David S. Peters - Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award

2001 UNI women's volleyball team (Roster members: Jill Arganbright, Michelle Burvee, Katie Epley, Steph Germann, Erin Hirsch, Kim Kester, Abby Lemek, Kim McCaffrey, Molly O'Brien, Rachel Tink, Shari Vermeer, Miranda Weber, Jessi Worrell, head coach Bobbi Peterson, assistant coaches Barb Randall and Mary Bernhardt, volunteer assistant coach DeAnn Woodin, student assistant coaches Alex Auker and Maya Hirsch, athletic trainer Dr. Matt Gage, and manager Jared Penning).