Rick Hartzell Position: Director of Athletics

Now entering his ninth year as Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Iowa, Rick Hartzell has overseen unparalleled success and growth for the Panthers athletics program. He was named the university's fourth full-time director of athletics since joining the Division I ranks on August 9, 1999.

Take some time to talk to Hartzell, and his passion for UNI athletics - and college athletics in general - comes across loud and clear. His love for the Panthers should be no surprise, as he was a UNI student-athlete during the mid-70s, and was able to come back home in 1999 to lead his alma mater's athletic program into the 21^st century. He also believes strongly in the "student" part of the term student-athlete, and understands the importance of shaping well-rounded individuals for a life after competitive athletics are over.

His dedication to the UNI athletics was rewarded this past June as he was named one of 29 winners of the AstroTurf AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Hartzell was honored by being the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) recipient for the central region.

This past year, UNI teams claimed four conference or regional championships. The Panthers posted a third place finish in this year's Missouri Valley Conference all-sports standings - their second highest finish. UNI's men's track and field finished ninth at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championships this past March, its highest finish ever. The Panther volleyball team advanced to the second round of the 2006 NCAA tournament, while wrestling won its 22^nd straight West Regional title and advanced six wrestlers to the NCAA championships. In addition, UNI's 431 student-athletes shined in the classroom, holding a combined spring cumulative grade point average of 3.00.

The list of individual and team athletic successes since Hartzell took over at UNI is long and distinguished. The football team has claimed three conference titles the past five seasons, and advanced to the NCAA FCS championship game in 2005. The men's basketball team won its first-ever Missouri Valley Conference championship in 2004, and that started a stretch of three straight NCAA tournament appearances - including at-large bids in both 2005 and 2006. UNI volleyball has won seven of the past nine conference championships, and made three appearances in the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 during that span. Panther wrestling crowned its first Division I national champion in 2000, and has placed as high as 11^th in the national tournament. Track and field and cross country have claimed numerous conference titles, including the last eight indoor men's crowns, and baseball made its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance in 2001, winning the rugged MVC crown. In fact, no less than 10 sports have seen teams or individuals in postseason action since Hartzell came back to the Cedar Valley.

The success on the field has been a direct result of Hartzell's hiring of quality head coaches during his tenure, many with Iowa and UNI ties. Mark Farley (football), Bobbi Petersen (volleyball), Greg McDermott and Ben Jacobson (men's basketball), Brad Penrith (wrestling), Rick Heller (baseball), Sachin Kirtane (women's tennis) and Tanya Warren (women's basketball) are among the coaches that Hartzell has brought to UNI, with most garnering conference or regional championships and NCAA postseason appearances.

Off the field, UNI student-athletes have shined academically as well. UNI's overall student-athlete graduation rate is among the leaders in the Missouri Valley Conference and Gateway Football Conference. UNI's overall student-athlete cumulative grade point average has risen dramatically, to an impressive 3.0 after the spring 2007 semester for more than 400 student-athletes. The Panthers had numerous student-athletes that earned academic all-conference honors in 2006-07.

UNI's overall athletic success has been a constant under Hartzell. The Panthers have ranked in the top 100 of the U.S. Sports Academy Director's Cup standings six of the past eight seasons, including twice in the top 70. UNI is consistently among the top schools nationally in the all-sports rankings among those that sponsor FCS football.

Hartzell has been a key figure involved in several facility upgrades, including the development of the McLeod Center, which opened in November 2006. The McLeod Center houses the men's and women's basketball programs, and volleyball and wrestling teams. Another new aspect added to the McLeod Center is a panther statue that will be located west of the Eldon Miller Plaza.

In addition, Hartzell has overseen the effort to turn the UNI-Dome and future McLeod Center into an economic development site for the Cedar Valley, by garnering concerts and other special events to campus. Other key fund-raising initiatives include the construction of a new football locker room, weight room and enhancements to the outdoor track. The Human Performance Center located to the north of the UNI-Dome will be completed this fall, which will include the new football locker room. The strength and conditioning center will be expanded as well.

Another key effort spearheaded by Hartzell was UNI's radio and television agreements. Panther football and men's basketball has local television contracts for TV with KFXA (Fox 28), and for radio with KXEL (1540 AM), each of which was renewed for multiple years in 2004. UNI women's basketball and volleyball is currently carried by KWLO (1330 AM) radio, and is one of the only schools in the Midwest to have a regular-season home for volleyball.

Hartzell has helped guide the university through the NCAA's certification process, and overseen the addition of women's soccer to varsity status. He was a key player in the recent cooperative merger with UNI's Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services (HPELS) department, bringing the athletic training and strength and conditioning programs under one umbrella with the university.

A past president of the Gateway Football Conference athletic directors, he is currently vice-president of the Missouri Valley Conference administrators. He also serves as chair of the MVC sportsmanship committee, as well as serving as a member of the officiating committee and the centennial celebration committee. He recently received the All-American Football Foundation's General Robert Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award.

In addition, Hartzell is a highly-respected NCAA Division I men's basketball official, having worked games for the ACC, Big Ten and Conference USA among other conferences, and officiated numerous NCAA tournament games. This past winter, Hartzell was named to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Rules Committee and will serve a four-year term.

Prior to being named at UNI, Hartzell had served as director of athletics at Bucknell starting in 1988, directing a Division I program with FCS football consisting of 28 sports. Prior to his appointment at Bucknell, he was Director of Athletics and Chairman of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County from 1985-88, directing a 19-sport program which moved from Division II to Division I during his tenure.

Hartzell played football and baseball for the Panthers. He received his bachelor's degree in physical education and english from UNI in 1974, and his master's in educational administration in 1977. A native of Klemme, Iowa, he was a five-sport letterman at Klemme High School.

Hartzell's personal interests include reading, fitness, auto racing and spending time with family and friends. He has three children, Nate, who works for Young Plumbing and Heating in Waterloo; Amanda Hartzell Barkhurst, who owns and operates Centennial Stables in Waverly; and Jackson, who was born Jan. 16, 2007. Hartzell and his wife, the former Jill George, a Doctor of Chiropractic and owner of Hartzell Family Chiropractic in Waterloo, reside in rural Cedar Falls.