Head Coach Dave Paulsen Awarded Contract Extension

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – UNI cross country and track and field coach Dave Paulsen has been awarded a contract extension through June 30, 2022 as announced today by UNI's Director of Athletics David Harris.

"Dave and his staff have done a great job leading our Track and Field and Cross Country programs," said UNI Director of Athletics David Harris. "In consecutive years, we have won a conference championship in Women's Cross Country and a conference championship in Men's Outdoor Track and Field. As an alum, Dave has great passion for this institution and a burning desire to lead the Panthers to more championships in the years to come. We are excited to have him leading our Track and Field and Cross Country programs and look forward to working together toward an even brighter future ahead."

The extension comes on the heels of a conference championship in the outdoor season for the men's track and field program. It is the second Missouri Valley Conference title since Paulsen took over as head coach for the 2015-16 season.

"We are doing it the right way," Paulsen said. "We have the right people in the program, and we have the right assistant coaches and staff in place. Anytime you have the right people in place, success isn't too far behind. I think we do a really good job of bringing the right people into the program that facilitate the culture we're trying to establish."

In his second year as the head coach of the cross country teams, Paulsen earned MVC Coach of the Year after the women's team exceeded its No. 6 preseason ranking to capture the conference title. Four Panthers placed in the top 10. The women placed ninth at the NCAA Midwest Regional, the team's highest finish in UNI history. Paulsen just wrapped up his third year as the leader of the Panther cross country and track and field programs and was named USTFCCCA's Midwest Coach of the Year. Paulsen will enter his 11th year with UNI having served as an assistant coach at his alma mater.

"I really appreciate the extension, because it shows the administration is confident in the direction we are taking the program," Paulsen said. "As an alum, it means a lot to be able to continue UNI's traditions as the head coach. Consistency and stability is a huge part of success in anything you are doing. It helps future Panthers make decisions about their academic and athletic career."

Sophomore Jacob Smith took sixth in the 400-meter hurdles at this year's Division I NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to end UNI's first team All-American drought since 2009 on the men's side. In 2016, Brandon Carnes earned his second MVC Most Outstanding Male Track Athlete honor. Carnes finished his collegiate career undefeated in the MVC in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 60-meter dash (indoor and outdoor). On the women's side, Paige Knodle earned first team All-American honors with an eighth-place finish in the heptathlon in 2016. Knodle was named the 2016 MVC Most Valuable Female Athlete and Most Outstanding Track Athlete. All-American track and field honors with Paulsen as head coach:

2015 indoor: Carnes (second team 60-meter dash); Knodle (second team pentathlon)
2016 outdoor: Knodle (first team hepthathlon); Baker (second team hammer throw); Carnes (honorable mention 100-meter dash)
2016 indoor: Carnes (second team 60-meter dash)
2017 outdoor: Carnes (second team 100-meter dash)
2018 outdoor: Smith (first team 400-meter hurdles)

As an assistant, Paulsen coached middle distance standouts Tyler Mulder and Holli Hosch. Mulder finished third in the 800-meter run. Hosch won three individual MVC titles in the 800 and earned AA honors. Paulsen coached Alex Wilson, now an assistant coach who continues to compete professionally, to second-place finish at the MVC Cross Country Championships. She became the sixth top-five finisher in UNI history and set the school record. Wilson went to become just the fifth female student-athlete in the Missouri Valley to win both the 800- and 1,500-meter runs at MVC Outdoor Championships.

Prior to joining the Panther staff, Paulsen enjoyed unprecedented success as the head cross country and assistant track and field coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa, from 2006-2008. Before his stint at Central, he served as a volunteer coach at UNI for three years.

As a student-athlete for the Panthers from 2000-2003, Paulsen earned All-America honors in 2002 as a member of the UNI distance medley team. Paulsen qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 800 meters in 2004 with a personal best time of 1:47.03.

The Waverly, Iowa, native received his bachelor's degree from UNI in political science in 2004 and earned his master's degree in exercise science from UNI in 2006. He and his wife, Dee have a son, Caleb and two daughters, Chloe and Kadee.

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