University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Coover Named Assistant Coach For Track & Field
9/28/2017 9:25:00 AM | Track and Field
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – After spending the past five seasons as a volunteer coach for the Panthers, Jeff Coover has been elevated to a full-time assistant coach for the University of Northern Iowa track and field program.
"We're happy to announce that current UNI volunteer assistant coach Jeff Coover has been hired to our coaching staff," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "Jeff has done an outstanding job serving our student athletes in his role as a volunteer coach for the past five years."
As a volunteer coach at UNI, Coover has coached women pole vaulters Libby Torresani and Jenna Wexter to MVC All-Conference performances in 2014-15 and 2013-14 along with seeing both athletes earn spots at the NCAA West Preliminary Round. Torresani captured both the indoor and outdoor school records in the pole vault in 2014-15 along with a conference title at the outdoor meet.
"In his time here, Jeff has shown a great passion for UNI athletics," Paulsen said. " He has a tremendous level of commitment to the overall development of our student athletes both on and off the track. I could not be more pleased to have Jeff join our full-time staff."
Before his time at UNI, Coover spent two years as a volunteer at his alma mater of Indiana University as he coached pole vaulters. Coover, a 2010 graduate of Indiana, was the 2009 Big Ten Champion in the vault as a Hoosier and was an All-American as well after earning fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
"I am thrilled to join a coaching staff and program that has enjoyed such a rich history of success at every level," Coover said. "I look forward to helping further an already fantastic culture of excellence on the track and in the classroom."
During his 2010 senior season at IU, Coover placed third overall at the NCAA Indoor Championships and fifth outdoors, recording a new personal record of 5.50m (18'0.5"). In 2011, Coover tied his personal record while competing as a professional in Eindoven, Netherlands.
Coover, a native of La Jolla, Calif., earned a degree in environmental management from IU in 2010. Coover currently resides in Waterloo, Iowa and was married this past month to Chelsea Dixon.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the UNI track and field program, follow the Panthers on Twitter at "@UNITrackFieldXC" and on Facebook at "UNI Track and Field."
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 5)
Wednesday, September 24
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 4)
Wednesday, September 17
UNI Football Highlights vs. Eastern Washington (Sept. 13, 2025)
Tuesday, September 16
UNI volleyball tops Iowa State at home
Friday, September 12