New UNI AD Megan Franklin set to lead ‘legacy era’

CEDAR FALLS — University of Northern Iowa president Mark Nook formally introduced Megan Franklin as the school’s new new Director of Athletics on Tuesday afternoon at McLeod Center.

Franklin’s hire was announced last Monday, along with a five-year contract set to be approved at the Board of Regents’ next meeting.

She arrives in Cedar Falls after spending the last 15 years at Drake, the past 12 as a Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Initiatives and External Operations.

On Tuesday, when it came time to win over Panthers fans, Franklin described her vision for UNI’s athletics department in what she coined the “legacy era.”

Franklin’s description included typical pillars of athletics department leadership — student-athlete wellness, graduation, positioning coaches to succeed and community engagement and service. But it also included less common priorities, such as teaching student-athletes philanthropy and working with administrative staff on their passions and professional development, not just their duties, while at UNI.

The most immediate consequential elements described by Franklin as part of the “legacy era” was UNI volleyball approaching its 50th anniversary, the university’s 150th anniversary in 2026 and a promise that a UNI-Dome renovation, basketball and volleyball practice facility and wrestling practice facility will all be completed while she works alongside Nook.

“President Nook already talked about the facilities — they are legacy buildings that will be built and renovations to be done,” Franklin said. “I know in the vision of the Dome when it was built they knew that building would last longer than those that were imagining it then and we are doing the same with the court sport practice facility and the wrestling (practice) facility and getting that Dome renovation project done — and that will be done while we’re working together.”

Whoever was named UNI’s next director of athletics was going to face questions about fundraising.

A mainstay requirement of college athletics, fundraising has taken on a heightened importance over the last decade as an arms race for elite facilities emerged, followed by the name-image-likeness era.

Despite Franklin’s previous administrative positions not being immersed in fundraising, she pointed toward UNI’s multiple current fundraising efforts and how that variety ought to engage a wide array of donors.

“I think what is important is that it is going to mean that we have engagement from our fans and alumni and our donors in helping us navigate this time in college athletics,” Franklin said. “It’s exciting and it also offers opportunities for engagement, again, thinking through the legacy pieces of different interests people have and when they want to give. And that’s nice, they have a full menu for sure these days (to donate to).”

Franklin’s arrival at UNI offered a unique onboarding process, as former AD and longtime Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby spent the past five months leading the department on an interim basis.

Having been the Panthers athletics director from 1983 to 1991, Bowlsby’s intimate knowledge of UNI has Franklin well-positioned to begin her duties. Franklin revealed Tuesday that Bowlsby’s presence will continue within the department for at least a while longer.

“Bob has been a source of support during this transition and promises to continue to work on Zoom with me a little bit and answer (my) calls. I appreciate that,” Franklin said. “When (Bowlsby’s hiring) happened I really thought that was another signal of the university’s seriousness about athletics continuing momentum (and) moving through an interim process. He has brought really wonderful engagement and momentum across the institution, the community and our donors and fans. I just want to grab that baton and keys and get to work and follow in his wonderful footsteps.”