Diane (Braun) Eckhardt (1992) - Hall of Fame

Diane (Braun) Eckhardt

Induction:
1992
Class:
1976

Diane Braun Eckhardt, a native of Fredericksburg, Iowa, began her college career at the University of Northern Iowa in the fall of 1972. She started her four-year, three-sport career playing for the women's intercollegiate field hockey team as a goalie, a position that gained her many honors.

In 1973, she was selected to the All-Iowa College Team and to the third-team Midwest Hockey Association squad. In 1974, she was once again selected as a member of the All-Iowa College Team and named to the second-team Iowa All-Star squad, which participated in the Midwest Field Hockey Tournament. Also that year, she was chosen to compete in the National Field Hockey Tournament. She came back the nest year to help lead the field hockey team to a state title and again gathered honors, being named to the first-team Midwest I squad.

Field hockey was not the only sport she excelled in. Basketball filled her winter days and as a forward, she scored many baskets for head coach Wanda Green. She played on the UNI State Tournament Team all four years. Probably her best game was February 1, 1975, against Buena Vista College, in which she cored a remarkable 34 points in UNI's 86-43 win. They nest year was another good one for the senior co-captain and the team as they advanced to the state tournament finals. Unfortunately, she became ill before the final game and that, due to other teammate injuries, the Panthers lost, thus taking second.

Spring came and she was out on the field helping the softball program out. 1975 was a very good year for Eckhardt and the softball squad. As the team's catcher, she helped take the 1975 and 1976 teams to the state title. She also played in the Women's College World Series. Following graduation, Eckhardt served as a graduate assistant in the physical education department and as assistant coach for softball under head coach Jane Mertesdorf. Later, Eckhardt coached softball, basketball and volleyball at various levels. She also worked as a registered nurse in State Center, Iowa.