Steve Gearhart serves as the Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs at the University of Northern Iowa. Gearhart joined the UNI athletics staff November 2001 as an Assistant Athletics Director of Development. Gearhart was promoted to Senior Associate A.D. in December 2006.

Gearhart's duties include major gift fundraising and working closely with the University Foundation on securing financial support to enhance UNI athletics. With two years remaining in the 'Imagine the Impact' campaign, UNI athletics has exceeded its fundraising target by nearly 50 percent.

He played a key role in the multi-faceted UNI Student's First campaign that included the completion of the $26 million McLeod Center, $7 million Richard O. Jacobson Human Performance Complex and the new football locker room. Gearhart also helped secure the naming gift for the Mark Messersmith Outdoor Track & Field Complex.

Prior to coming to UNI, he served as an Assistant Athletic Director for Development at the University of Idaho from May 2000-November 2001. He provided leadership and supervision of four southern Idaho chapters of the Vandal Scholarship Fund (VSF) Board of Directors. He was also responsible for VSF special events including golf outings and alumni functions in southern Idaho.

Gearhart served in the Drake University athletic department 11 years prior to his work at Idaho. Gearhart was the Bulldogs Director of Athletic Development from November 1998-May 2000, after working in their athletic ticket office for nine years (June 1989-November 1998).

He earned his master's in Sport Administration from Kent State University in 1989. While at Kent State he served as the Golden Flashes' assistant to the Athletic Business Manager.

Gearhart is a former UNI student-athlete that competed for the Panthers from 1982-1987 on the cross country and track squads. He earned his bachelor of arts degree from UNI in Public Relations in 1987. While at UNI he also minored in business and journalism.

He and his wife, Shelly, reside in Cedar Falls and have two children - Allie (17) and Seb (12).