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UNI announces Megan Franklin as new athletic director • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Posted on by angelo
UNI announces Megan Franklin as new athletic director • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The University of Northern Iowa has named Megan Franklin its new athletic director after former athletic director David Harris left to take the athletic director role at Tulane University.

Former UNI athletic director Bob Bowlsby has served in the role on an interim basis since January. Franklin will take over starting May 13, according to a press release. Franklin worked at Drake University for more than a decade as senior associate athletic director for strategic initiatives and external operations and senior administrator.

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UNI President Mark Nook said in the release that Franklin’s ideas for boosting UNI athletics as well as the entire university made him stand out to the search committee. Franklin has agreed to a five-year contract pending approval from the Iowa Board of Regents, Nook said, and he is excited to introduce her to the campus community.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Megan to the University of Northern Iowa,” Nook said in the release. “Megan has played a key role in the rebirth of Drake Athletics in recent years. His understanding of the NCAA Division I and Missouri Valley Conference landscape will immediately benefit Panther Athletics. His long-standing commitment to student-athlete success stood out among a very strong group of candidates.

According to the release, during his time at Drake, Franklin oversaw 15 sports as an administrator, including women’s basketball, women’s tennis and rowing. She also worked with community partners on initiatives to host the 2019 and 2023 NCAA men’s basketball tournaments and on the early stages of development of Mediacom Stadium, the college’s football stadium.

Before joining Drake, Franklin held positions at Virginia Tech and the University of Nebraska.

“I appreciate President Nook and Panthers everywhere for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve as UNI’s athletic director,” Franklin said in the release. “UNI’s rich tradition of success in athletics, in the classroom and as a key community partner appealed to me… As I toured the campus and interacted with President Nook, his leadership team , his coaches and his staff, it just confirmed many of the reasons. that I have admired UNI from afar for many years. I am excited to arrive in Cedar Falls to build on the legacy of those who came before me as Athletic Director. Go Panthers! »