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Aug. 29, 2008

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Former UNI track and field athlete Dave Paulsen has been named the cross country and assistant track and field coach at the University of Northern Iowa head coach Travis Geopfert announced today.

“I am very excited that coach Paulsen has decided to join our staff,” UNI head coach Travis Geopfert said. “As a UNI graduate, he brings a lot to the table in knowledge about cross country and middle distance. He has proven to be a great recruiter and with his passion for UNI, and I am confident he will be a terrific fit. I am excited to welcome Dave and his wife Dee back to the Cedar Valley.”

Paulsen was the head cross country and assistant track and field coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa, for the past two years. At Central, Paulsen coached eight conference champions, including nine national qualifiers, with four athletes earning All-America honors. Prior to Central, Paulsen served as a volunteer coach at UNI for three years. Paulsen also worked as the sport performance coach for the XL Sports Acceleration Program, a joint venture between the University and Cedar Valley Medical Specialists.

As a student-athlete for the Panthers from 2000-2004, Paulsen earned All-America honors in 2002 as a member of the UNI distance medley team. Paulsen was a two-time NCAA Division I meet qualifier, along with being an eight-time all-Missouri Valley Conference performer as. He was an U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 800 meters in 2004, with a personal-best time of 1:47.03. Paulsen was also a two-time USATF indoor national meet qualifier.

Paulsen received his bachelor’s degree from UNI in political science in 2004 and earned his master’s degree in exercise science from UNI in 2006.