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Women's Track
One name is synonymous with the strong Panther track and field tradition of success: Chris Bucknam. Now in his 22nd season as head coach and second season as Director of Running Programs, Bucknam has helped UNI develop into one of the strongest running schools in the nation. Since his arrival in 1979 as assistant to long-time head coach Lynn King, the Panthers have won 25 conference titles- 12 indoor, four outdoor and nine cross country crowns. After being promoted to head coach in 1984, Bucknam has taken the Panther track and field program to new heights. He has produced two national champions and an outstanding 36 all-Americans in the 75 qualifiers he has sent to the NCAA Championships. "Not only are we proud of our all-Americans, but when you look at the different events that those all-Americans occur in, we have one in almost every track event," commented Bucknam. "I think that says something about our coaching staff and the expertise that we have in place. It also says something about our commitment. We are not just a one-dimensional team. We try to be the total package." Bucknam coached his first NCAA champion in 1997 when Olympic hopeful Joey Woody won the 400-meter hurdles at the national outdoor meet. Bucknam saw his second national champion crowned in 2001 when Jake Pauli won the indoor pole vault title. In 2002 Bucknam and his staff took their men's program to new heights when the Panthers placed 12th at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The five Panthers honored as all-Americans at the meet were fuel for Bucknam's fire. In the past four seasons, he has coached 13 All-Americans. "Our ultimate goal with our athletes is to get them to reach their full potential individually and that is how we measure ourselves as a coaching staff," said Bucknam. "When we are able to do that and get everyone to do that at the right time, that is when the championships come together." In 1991 Bucknam oversaw UNI's move to the Missouri Valley conference, where the Panthers have since left their mark. Although the Valley has long been one of the best conferences in the nation, boasting numerous all-Americans, national champions and Olympians, UNI stepped in and became one of the top competitors in the league. In fact, in the 13 years since joining the conference, the Panthers have the best average finish in the league on the men's side, having claimed 12 titles, 12 runner-up finishes, four thirds and three fourths. Bucknam's success is evident not only to UNI and the Missouri Valley conference, but to the nation as well. Bucknam has been awarded Midwest Regional Coach of the Year and was a finalist for National Coach of the Year five times. He boasts 14 Missouri Valley Coach of the Year awards and was honored as the United States Track Association's Regional Coach of the Year for the fifth time after the men won their 2004 MVC title. Prior to joining the Valley, Bucknam was named the top coach in the Midcontinent Conference nine times. A native of Beverly, Mass., Bucknam attended Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., where he was a letterwinner in track and cross country, specializing in the middle distance and distance races He was elected co-captain of the cross country team his senior year and graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He earned his master's in physical education from UNI in 1982. Bucknam and his wife, Cindy, reside in Cedar Falls with their son, Eric (17), and daughter, Kate (12). |
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