University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Austin Phyfe hired as Donor Experience Officer for UNI Athletics
11/17/2025 2:37:00 PM | General
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI Athletic Department on Monday announced the hiring of Austin Phyfe for its new Donor Experience Officer position.
In this new role, Phyfe will assist the Panther athletic department's fundraising programs, most notably in engaging and building relationships with new donors, stewarding current donors in their giving portfolio, and re-connecting with donors who have given in the past to UNI Athletics though may not have been active in recent years. He will also be working with donors on leadership gifts benefitting the Athletics VIP fund, sports program funds, along with the university's annual giving campaign, Live Purple Give Gold.
"Join me in welcoming Austin Phyfe to the Panther Athletics family in this newly established position," said UNI Director of Athletics Megan Franklin. "Austin has been a tremendous ambassador for the Panthers as a student-athlete and graduate assistant on the men's basketball staff. He is poised to be an impactful leader in forging a new focus area for Panther Athletics fundraising. The momentum in the Legacy Era of Panther Athletics continues to rise with Austin joining the team."Â
A Waverly, Iowa native, Phyfe was a standout forward for the UNI men's basketball team from 2017 to 2022, helping the Panthers capture the Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) regular season championships in 2020 and 2022, with the 2022 campaign culminating in an NIT berth. He appeared in 121 career games with 71 starts for Northern Iowa while averaging 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds, and also earning First Team All-MVC, MVC First Team Scholar Athlete and NABC All-District Team honors as a redshirt sophomore in 2019-20. Phyfe notably finished his career as UNI's all-time leader in career field goal percentage (60.4%).
After health challenges late in his career, Phyfe medically retired from basketball in 2023 and served as a student assistant for the Panther men's basketball team in 2023-24 before spending the 2024-25 campaign as the program's graduate assistant. He graduated from UNI in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in elementary and middle level education, as well as a master's degree in 2025 in community health and recreation.
"I am excited to step into the role of Donor Experience Officer for Athletics at the University of Northern Iowa," Phyfe said. "With so many exciting developments happening in UNI Athletics, I look forward to contributing to its continued success and making an impact on a place that has meant so much to me from a young age."
Phyfe currently resides in Cedar Falls with his wife, Abbi, a former UNI volleyball player. He is also the son of former Panther men's basketball standout Steve Phyfe and brother of Aftin Phyfe, a former All-MVC swimmer for the Panthers.
"We're excited to welcome Austin back into this unique, first-of-its-kind role within the Athletic Department," said John Mosbach, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and NIL. "He brings a powerful combination of institutional knowledge, relationship-building ability and a deep understanding of the UNI student-athlete experience. His presence will enhance how we engage donors and strengthen the long-term success of Panther Athletics."
UNI Athletics action can be followed all year long on social media on Facebook (UNI Athletics), X (@UNIAthletics) and on Instagram (@uniathletics). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
