University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2023
- Class:
- 1994
A four-year starter behind the plate, Karen (Vande Voort) Harrill's athletic skills as a softball player were equally matched by her academic success in the classroom.
Vande Voort's impact on the UNI softball program helped the Panthers build towards a record-breaking season in 1994 with the program's first 40-win season. Vande Voort was named University of Northern Iowa Softball Rookie of the Year in 1991, Second Team All-MVC conference selection in 1993 and First Team  All-MVC conference selection in 1994. She was also the University of Northern Iowa's NCAA Woman of the Year in 1993-1994. Vande Voort's academic excellence was equally impressive as she caught behind the plate for her entire career.Â
Vande Voort, a NFCA Second Team All-Region and MVC All-Tournament Team selection, was named an MVC First Team Scholar-Athlete during her junior and senior campaigns (1993, 1994), and also earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American recognition in 1992 and 1994. As of today, she is one of 11 Panthers all-time to earn multiple CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, and was only the second to receive recognition in consecutive years at the time of her graduation.
After graduating from UNI, Vande Voort would go on to coach high school softball in Iowa at Lynnville-Sully, Union, and her alma mater, Pella Christian, where in 2021 she would take the Eagles to their first state tournament since her senior season in high school in 1990. Today, Vande Voort serves as an assistant coach at Marshalltown Community College. She currently resides north of Pella, Iowa with her husband Rick, and their children Amanda, Natalie and Karson.
