Northern Iowa Panthers

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Northern Iowa Panthers
Northern Iowa Panters logo.svg
University University of Northern Iowa
Conference Missouri Valley (primary)
Missouri Valley Football Conference
Big 12 (wrestling)
NCAA Division I (FCS)
Athletic director Bob Bowlsby [1]
Location Cedar Falls, Iowa
Varsity teams15
Football stadium UNI-Dome
Basketball arena McLeod Center
MascotTC/TK Panther
NicknamePanthers
Fight song"UNI Fight"
ColorsPurple and old gold [2]
   
Website unipanthers.com
Uni panthers wordmark 2021.png

The Northern Iowa Panthers are the athletic teams of the University of Northern Iowa. The university is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference and competes in NCAA Division I (Division I FCS in football).

Contents

History

The school's mascot is the Panther. They participate in the Missouri Valley Conference for all sports except football and wrestling, in which they are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (formerly the Gateway Football Conference) and the Big Twelve Conference. Northern Iowa previously competed in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now known as the American Rivers Conference), North Central Conference, and the Mid-Continent Conference (now known as the Summit League).

History of UNI nickname

On September 8, 1931, the following appeal appeared in the student newspaper, the College Eye, under the headline "Contest Started for School Name": [3]

"Who wants to be called Tutors, Pedagogues, and Teachers all the time? Every leading school in the country has some name by which they are known in the realm of sport. Iowa is known as the Hawkeyes, Minnesota as Gophers, Chicago as Maroons, and so forth. Why not give Iowa State Teachers College a name which signifies something characteristic about the school besides the fact that it is a teachers college?" [3]

The article goes on to note that entries would be judged by a member of the Department of Physical Education, other faculty, and students. [3]

When the contest was announced, the Iowa State Teachers College had already been participating in intercollegiate athletics on a regular and organized basis for over thirty-five years. Teachers College teams had participated in contests with other Iowa colleges, and occasionally with teams from outside the state, in baseball, football, basketball, and track and field. Until the end of World War I, students certainly did get excited about these contests, but they probably took just as much pleasure in the success of the school's debate and oratorical teams. The school's sole mission, the preparation of teachers, tended to attract many more women than men to the Teachers College. And, consequently, the school did not have an abundance of material from which to draw its athletes in the days when only men participated in intercollegiate athletics. Following the war, however, the college made a distinct effort to attract men to the teaching profession. An important part of this effort was the addition of physical education courses to the curriculum that would help to prepare men for teaching positions that included athletics coaching responsibilities. Improved athletics facilities, including the construction of the West Gymnasium, showed that the school was taking a more serious attitude toward intercollegiate athletics. [3]

On September 18, 1931, the College Eye announced that Paul Bender, acting head of the Department of Physical Education for Men; George Holmes, professor of journalism; Robert Burley, president of the Student Council; and the sports editor of the College Eye would judge entries. The winner would receive a leather briefcase from the Berg Drug Company. Second place would be a dresser alarm clock from Chase Jewelry Store. Third place would be a season football pass. [3]

The winning name "Purple Panthers" was submitted by Burl Berry, a center on the football team. [4]

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Basketball Basketball
Cross countryCross country
Football Golf
GolfSoccer
Track and field1Softball
Wrestling Swimming and diving
Tennis
Track and field1
Volleyball
1 – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

Baseball

UNI's men's baseball program was discontinued after the 2008–2009 season.

In 1961, the Panthers led by future Baltimore RP Eddie Watt [5] qualified for the NCAA Division 1 Baseball Tournament losing in the District 5 Final to eventual CWS Runner-Up Oklahoma State in Stillwater. The Panthers also qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1958 and 2001. [6]

Other MLB players who attended UNI include Duane Josephson, the first Panther named All-American and who led the nation in HR's. [7]

Men's basketball

NCAA Tournament history

SeasonSeedEliminated
Round		Teams DefeatedLost to
1962 (College Division) N/A2nd RoundHamlineNebraska Wesleyan
1964 (College Division) N/A4th Place Washington (MO)
Mankato State
Southeast Missouri 		Evansville
North Carolina A&T
1979 (Division II) N/A2nd Round Nebraska-Omaha Wisconsin–Green Bay
1990 (14)2nd Round(3) Missouri (6) Minnesota
2004 (14)1st Round—(3) Georgia Tech
2005 (11)1st Round—(6) Wisconsin
2006 (10)1st Round—(7) Georgetown
2009 (12)1st Round—(5) Purdue
2010 (9)3rd Round(Sweet 16)(8) UNLV
(1) Kansas 		(5) Michigan State
2015 (5)3rd Round(12) Wyoming (4) Louisville
2016 (11)3rd Round(6) Texas (3) Texas A&M

Other tournaments

Women's basketball

Jacqui Kalin helped lead the women's basketball team to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, as the team won back-to-back MVC Tournament titles. [10] In her freshman year in 2007–08, she led the MVC with an .899 free throw percentage (a school record), and was named MVC Freshman of the Year. [11] [12] [13] [14] In 2010–11 she was named the Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year. [14] [13] In 2012–13 she led the league in scoring (19.5 ppg; a school record), had the fourth-highest season free throw percentage in NCAA Division 1 history-and the highest of any senior (95.5%), and was again named the Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year. [11] [14] [15] [16] For her career Kalin was first all-time at UNI in scoring (2,081), 3-point field goals made (265), free throws made (484), and free throw percentage (.920; the NCAA Division 1 career record. [11] [17] [14] [15]

CoachRecordWhen coachedNo. of years
Tanya Warren267–1942007–presentCurrent
Tony DiCecco183–1611995–200712 years
Wanda Green78–591968–197810 years
J.D. Anderson59–551980–19844 years
Kim Mayden36–961984–19895 years
Terri Lasswel35–1251989–19956 years
Sandra Williamson7–401978–19802 years

NCAA Tournament history

SeasonSeedEliminated
round		Teams defeatedLost to
2010(16)1st Round—(1) Nebraska
2011(13)1st Round—(4) Michigan State
2017(10)1st Round—(7) DePaul

WNIT history

SeasonSeedEliminated
round		Teams defeatedLost to
2001N/A1st RoundDePaul
2003N/A1st RoundBaylor
2006N/A1st RoundKansas State
2013N/A2nd RoundMarquetteBall State
2015N/A1st RoundMissouri
2016N/A3rd RoundNebraska

Drake

South Dakota

Football

The Panthers v Iowa State in 2011 DSC0185-XL (6118561389).jpg
The Panthers v Iowa State in 2011

The program began in 1895 and has fielded a team every year since with the exceptions of 1906–1907 and 1943–1944. The Panthers play their home games at the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Northern Iowa has won thirty-three conference titles, [18] the most out of the four Iowa Division I institutions.

Softball

In the 1977 AIAW Women's College World Series, the Panther softball team defeated Arizona, 7–0, in the deciding final game, led by pitcher Pat Stockman to earn the university's first team national championship. [19] The softball team has appeared in four Women's College World Series, in 1973, 1975, 1976 and 1977. [19] In 1982, then competing at the Division II level, the softball team won a second AIAW national title.

Conference memberships

Wrestling

UNI wrestling match in 2012 Laying Low (8736521837).jpg
UNI wrestling match in 2012

The University of Northern Iowa Wrestling team, founded in 1923, won the NCAA (Single division) national championship in 1950 and the NCAA Division II national championships in 1975 and 1978. They competed in the Western Wrestling Conference until 2012, when UNI became an associate member of the Mid-American Conference since the MVC is a non-wrestling conference. The Panthers continued to compete in the MAC through the 2016–17 season, after which they moved to the Big 12.

Doug Schwab is the current head coach for the Northern Iowa Wrestling Team. Mission Statement - To communicate with UNI wrestling fans to support, encourage, promote a successful UNI wrestling tradition. [20]

In the 2013–2014 season, head coach Doug Schwab led the Panthers to a perfect 13–0 season in dual meets, [21] the only division one wrestling team to go undefeated.

Northern Iowa Panther Wrestling Accomplishments: [22] [23] [24]

Notable wrestlers: [28] [29] [30]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Northern Iowa</span> Public state university in Cedar Falls, Iowa, US

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Iowa Panthers football</span> College football team of the University of Northern Iowa

The Northern Iowa Panthers football program represents the University of Northern Iowa in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level as member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The program began in 1895 and has fielded a team every year since with the exceptions of 1906–1907 and 1943–1944. The Panthers play their home games at the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball</span> American mens college basketball team

The Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team represents the University of Northern Iowa located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. UNI is currently a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Iowa Panthers wrestling</span>

The Northern Iowa Panthers wrestling team represents the University of Northern Iowa and competes in the Big 12 Conference. The Panthers are one-time Division I National Champions and four-time National Runners-up. The team is coached by Doug Schwab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Northern Iowa during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Panthers, led by ninth year head coach Ben Jacobson, played their home games at McLeod Center and were members of the Missouri Valley Conference. They finished the season 31–4, 16–2 in MVC play to finish in second place. They defeated Bradley, Loyola–Chicago, and Illinois State to become champions of the Missouri Valley tournament. They received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Wyoming in the second round before losing in the third round to Louisville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Iowa Panthers women's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Northern Iowa Panthers women's basketball team represents the University of Northern Iowa, located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. UNI is currently a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Jacqui Kalin is an American-Israeli former college and professional basketball 5-foot-8 point guard. In college at the University of Northern Iowa, she set the free throw percentage NCAA Division 1 career record, and was twice named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. She played two years of professional basketball in Israel, and played for the Israel women's national basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drake–Northern Iowa rivalry</span> American college sports rivalry

The Northern Iowa–Drake rivalry is the American collegiate athletics rivalry between the Northern Iowa Panthers sports teams of the University of Northern Iowa and the Drake Bulldogs sports teams of Drake University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2021–22 Northern Iowa Panthers men's basketball team represented the University of Northern Iowa during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Panthers, led by 16th-year head coach Ben Jacobson, played their home games at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 Northern Iowa Panthers women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2023–24 Northern Iowa Panthers women's basketball team represented the University of Northern Iowa during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Panthers, led by 17th-year head coach Tanya Warren, played their home games at the McLeod Center located in Cedar Falls, Iowa as members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

References

  1. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa". uni.edu.
  2. ↑ University of Northern Iowa Athletics Style Guide (PDF). January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "History". uni.edu.
  4. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa (UNI) uses new nickname "Purple Panthers" in 1931". The des Moines Register. 27 September 1931. p. 16.
  5. ↑ wobs (19 April 2013). "1974 Topps - Pennant Fever". 1974topps-pennantfever.blogspot.com.
  6. ↑ "REGIONAL/SUPER REGIONAL RESULTS" (PDF). ncaa.org.
  7. ↑ "Duane Josephson - SABR". sabr.org.
  8. ↑ Katz, Andy (2009-07-10). "U.S. to play Israel for bronze". ESPN.com . Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  9. ↑ "Panthers to Represent USA at World University Games". Cedar Falls, Iowa: University of Northern Iowa. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Drake University Athletics - Jacqui Kalin - Staff Directory". godrakebulldogs.com.
  11. 1 2 3 "DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL RECORDS" (PDF). NCAA.org.
  12. ↑ 2008-09 University of Northern Iowa Women's Basketball Media Guide Guide, University of Northern Iowa.
  13. 1 2 "UNI's Kalin named to Jewish Sports Review's All-America team". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. May 17, 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Jacqui Kalin - 2012-13 - Women's Basketball". UNI Athletics.
  15. 1 2 2015-16 UNI Women's Basketball Media Guide. 20 October 2015.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  16. ↑ "Thea Lemberger Named JSR All-America". UCLA. May 16, 2013.
  17. ↑ Barry Poe (March 9, 2020). "Kalin excited about next chapter". Sioux City Journal.
  18. ↑ "UNI Championship Seasons". Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  19. 1 2 Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. pp. 36–41. ISBN   978-0-9893007-0-4.
  20. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Athletics - 2016-17 Wrestling Coaching Staff".
  21. ↑ "Wrestling Stays Perfect With 21-19 Win Over ODU". UNIPanthers.com. Archived from the original on 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  22. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1931-1952". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  23. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1953-1964". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  24. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1965-1982". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  25. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1950 Championship Team". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  26. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1975 Championship Team". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  27. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling 1978 Championship Team". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  28. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling NCAA Division I Champions". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  29. ↑ "University of Northern Iowa Wrestling NCAA Division II Champions". Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  30. ↑ "The 1948 London Olympics: Wrestling Team Experience". Stillwater, Oklahoma: National Wrestling Hall of Fame . Retrieved 2014-02-25.
  31. ↑ "Six-Time All-Americans (Div. I and Div. II)". University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved 2014-02-27.
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