Women's History Month: Jane Mertesdorf
3/12/2021
For former UNI softball coach and UNI Athletics Hall of Famer Jane Mertesdorf, things weren’t always at a championship level on campus. Despite leading the Panthers to multiple state championships and a national championship in 1978, the softball program definitely had its struggles.
Initially coming to UNI as an instructor in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, after two years Mertesdorf traveled to Ball State University to receive her Master’s degree in physical education. She came back to UNI in 1969 and typically taught in the Division of Recreation and was involved with the creation of a recreation major. She would start the first softball program in UNI’s history in 1970.
“I came to UNI to teach women’s physical education as women’s athletics were evolving back in 1972. Back then, you didn’t get extra pay as a coach and we didn’t have any assistant coaches or trainers for the team. We also were not able to give athletic scholarships for women’s sports. We definitely came from humble beginnings,” Mertesdorf said.
The UNI softball teams of the 1970s were not only the first teams in school history, but they were also some of the best to ever take the field under the leadership of Mertesdorf. But despite their success, the team struggled for basic necessities like equipment and uniforms, neither of which were funded by the university at the time.
“Our budget for 1972 was only $298. We had to use intramural softball equipment due to lack of funds for the program, and the players were to provide their own uniforms and meals using their own money. In some cases, we had to play games without backstops or uniforms, depending on the situation. The coaches and players were the ones who prepared the field before the games, because we didn’t have a grounds crew or anything like that,” said Mertesdorf.
Throughout the lack of funds and basic necessities for the team, Mertesdorf was able to lead a wildly successful Panther squad each year. During her tenure at the helm of Northern Iowa, her teams won three Iowa Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) state titles, along with the AIAW Region 6 Championship in 1977. She also led the Panther women to the Women’s College World Series four separate times, in 1973, 1975, 1976 and 1977, including the 1977 National Title.
While most of the players had little to nothing given to them on the softball team, Mertesdorf says that it didn’t affect their attitude or their ability on the field.
“Everyone was so excited to have collegiate athletics that the enthusiasm overcame any obstacles without realizing the problems. The players showed so much enthusiasm and skill development and were great ambassadors for UNI and the state of Iowa.”
Through all of their struggles, hardships and inconveniences, the UNI softball team under the creation and tutelage of Coach Jane Mertesdorf were able to overcome every obstacle thrown at them. Despite having almost no funding and equipment, the Panthers used their sheer excitement and love for the game instilled in them by Mertesdorf as a way to overcome the obstacles and helped them become one of the best collegiate softball teams in the 1970s. Coach Mertesdorf is an example of how love for the game can overcome any barrier in the way of success.
