UNI set to announce new AD

CEDAR FALLS — The University of Northern Iowa has its man.

After two and a half months of a nationwide search for a new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, university president Bill Ruud and the athletics department will announce the school's new athletics director on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

The university narrowed its list of finalists to three before last week, when it hosted the final candidates for on-campus interviews. On Tuesday morning, Minnesota State's Kevin Buisman withdrew his name from consideration, according to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. That leaves a choice between Montana State's Peter Fields, and Iowa State's David Harris. Harris was considered the front-runner for the position at the end of last week, according to sources close to the university.

Former AD Troy Dannen, a 1989 UNI graduate, announced his departure for Tulane University in December after eight years leading the Panther athletic programs. Interim athletics director Jean Berger assumed duties Jan. 1. Berger, who arrived at UNI the same time as Dannen, was recently announced as the next Executive Director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

The 84-day search was done by a search committee appointed by Ruud. Michael Hager, senior vice president of finance and operations at UNI, was chair of the committee, which also included Jerry Harris, former UNI athlete and current COO of Western Home Communities; Jan Bittner, retired UNI volleyball coach and member of the UNI Foundation Board; Tatiana Rice, current UNI student-athlete; Tanya Warren, women's basketball coach; John Fritch, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences; Elaine Eshbaugh, NCAA faculty athletics representative; and Lisa Baronio, vice president for university advancement.

THE FINALISTS

Peter Fields, Montana State — Fields was on campus last Monday, and brings with him 14 years of experience leading the Montana State athletics programs. He had previous stops with positions at the University of Missouri, the University of Toledo and Kent State University.

Fields was named the NACDA FCS West Region Athletic Director of the Year in 2015, and received the 2007 General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award from the All-America Football Foundation.

David Harris, Iowa State — Harris made the transition from Wisconsin to Iowa State in 2006, moving as part of the staff when Cyclones' AD Jamie Pollard took over ISU athletics. He began his administrative career at the University of Mississippi — where he played football and earned an M.B.A. — and currently is ISU's Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Services. He's also the administrator for football, men's basketball and wrestling at Iowa State.

Harris is also credited by Iowa State has having helped oversee athlete development, compliance, athletic training and strength and conditioning. According to ISU, under Harris' direction, the Cyclones earned a 'Program of Excellence' award for its life skills program (2008); recorded an all-time best student-athlete graduation rate (79 percent in 2009); and the athletic training unit was named the Big 12's best (2008 and 2014). ISU's student-athlete graduation rate was second-best in the Big 12 last year.

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