University of Northern Iowa

UNI Athletics
203 McLeod Center Cedar Falls, IA 50614

Division 1 Iowa Midwest

Public Medium National competitor

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Coaches

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Bruce Erickson

Erickson is in his seventh season as the Panthers head women’s soccer coach after taking over the job on Feb. 10, 2017. He is the sixth head coach in program history after serving as the head women’s soccer coach at Wayne State (Neb.) for two years and prior to that was the head women’s soccer coach at Creighton University from 1999-2014. In30 years as a head coach at the collegiate level, Erickson has compiled an overall record of 290-231-59.

In the 2022 season, the Panthers had one of their best seasons in program history, finishing with a 6-6-8 record while making it to the MVC Tournament Semifinal round for the first time since 2017. UNI ended the season with 23 goals, 16 assists, 91 saves, 261 shots, and 122 shots on goal. During the 2022 season, Erickson became UNI Soccer's all-time wins leader as a Head Coach with 43 wins over six seasons. Along with the Panthers best postseason finish in over five years, multiple UNI players earned postseason accomplishments. Forward Lauren Heinsch was named to the All-MVC First Team, the MVC Scholar Athlete of the Year, CSC Academic-All District, and the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Third Team. Freshman midfielder Caroline Hazen was named to the MVC All-Freshman Team while senior midfielder Lizzie Mewes made the MVC All-Tournament Team and the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team. Junior goalkeeper Caitlin Richards was also named to the MVC All-Tournament Team along with the CSC All-District Team.

During the fall 2021 season UNI rebounded from a tough year in the spring of 2021. In their first full season since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers made only their second appearance in the MVC Tournament since 2018. UNI ended the season with a record of 6-10-2 while hosting the first round of the MVC Tournament at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex. The 2021 season also marked the first full season where the Panthers competed on a new home field, returning to UNI's campus for the first time in program history. UNI wrapped up the year with 24 goals, 16 assists, 56 saves, 234 shots, and 120 shots on goal. Five Panthers earned postseason honors including three All-MVC Second Team athletes in defender Sandra Thiman, forward Lauren Heinsch, and forward Ashley Harrington and two honorable mention athletes in forward Johnnie Hill and midfielder Siri Ott. Thiman was also named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team while Ott was named to the MVC All-Tournament Team.

In the spring 2021 season, UNI faced only fellow Missouri Valley Conference Teams due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the shortened season, the Panthers ended with a 4-4-3 record and faced Illinois State in the first round of the MVC Tournament. Statistically UNI ended the year with nine goals, four assists, 40 saves, 105 shots, and 48 shots on goal. During the spring 2021 season, five Panthers made All-MVC Teams as Sandra Thiman and Lauren Heinsch made the All-MVC Second Team while Caitlin Richards, Allison Whitaker, and Lizzie Mewes earned honorable mentions. Heinsch was also named to the All-Freshman team for her first eason with UNI.

During the 2019 season, the Panthers finished with a 5-11 record. The Panthers finished with 23 goals, 19 assists and 92 shots on goal. Jordyn Rolli was named a Second Team All-MVC performer while Lizzie Mewes made the MVC All-Freshman Team. Sydney Hayden capped off her career with a First Team Scholar Athlete honor, Jordyn Rolli landed as a First Team Scholar Athlete for the first time in her career. Team was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

In 2018, Erickson led the Panthers to a 2nd straight winning season and a 9-7-3 overall record. The team set records for most goals in a game (10), assists in a game (8), and points in a game (28). The single-season mark for shots on goal was set at 134. Four team members earned spots on the MVC Scholar-Athlete team following the season. Hannah McDevitt became the all-time career leader in assists (12) and games played (79). Brynell Yount recorded eight career game-winning goals and goal keeper Jami Reichenberger extended her mark for career shutouts to 18. Team was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

In his first season at the helm of the UNI women’s soccer program, Erickson guided the Panthers to their best season in program history with a school record 14 victories and their first appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game. The team set single-season marks in points (97), goals (34), goals per game (1.70), assists (29), shots (309), shots on goal (142) and shutouts (11).

Brynell Yount set the UNI single-season records for goals (11) and points (24). Yount earned First-Team All-MVC honor and was named to the United Soccer Coaches’ Third-Team All-Midwest Region squad. Goalkeeper Jami Reichenberger set the MVC and program single-season record for shutouts (11). Sydney Hayden received the MVC’s Elite 17 Award at the conference tournament. Team was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

Erickson guided Wayne State to nine victories in 2016, the most wins for the NCAA Division II program since the 2006 season. In 2016, Wayne State was Regionally Ranked by the NSCAA for the first time, reaching as high as 9th in the Central Region. In each season he was at Wayne State, the Wildcats earned the NSCAA team academic award.

At Creighton, Erickson was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year (2002, 2010) and helped guide the Bluejays to five Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championships, two Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Championships and led Creighton to five NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010). Erickson ended his 16-year tenure at Creighton as the winningest coach in school history with a record of 163-125-32.

Erickson was a NLCAA All-American Goalkeeper and Team Captain at Viterbo University. He is a 2001 member of the schools Hall of Fame as a player and 4-Time Coach of the Year (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998).

Erickson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial organizational psychology from Viterbo University in 1990. Erickson has three children – Emma (27), Olivia (25) and Noah (22). Erickson resides in Cedar Falls with his wife Jeena.

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Chris Kowalski

Kowalski enters his seventh year with the Panthers after joining in 2017. Prior to UNI, he served as the Head Girls Soccer Coach at Cedar Falls High School and as the director of operations for FC Midwest Soccer Academy.

From 2015-2017, Kowalski served as the head coach for the Cedar Falls High School girls’ soccer team. His teams went to three sub-state finals and finished the 2017 season ranked in the top 15 for the state of Iowa for the first time in school history.

From 2004-2012, he served as the director of operations for FC Midwest Soccer Academy, as well as the head coach for the U13, U17 and U18 Girls Teams. During his tenure with FC Midwest, Kowalski coached over 30 players who subsequently competed as collegiate student-athletes at the NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA levels.

Kowalski also serves as an associate professor in the Leisure, Youth & Human Services Division at UNI. He has spent 20 years teaching in the division, and his research involves topics related to youth development and success in athletics, including coaching efficacy, leadership, and hazing/bullying prevention. He has co-authored or written chapters for nine books as well as published over 50 articles and presentations at the state, national, and international levels.

Kowalski holds NSCAA Regional, Goalkeeping I, and Zonal Defending diplomas. He also has his USSF “D” License. He earned his doctorate in education with an emphasis in youth development from the University of Northern Iowa, his master’s degree in recreation management from the University of Idaho, and his bachelor’s degrees in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice from Creighton University.

He resides in Cedar Falls with his wife, Crystal, and their two children, Norah (7) and Lukas (5).

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Jami Reichenberger

Reichenberger enters her second year as a full-time assistant coach for the Panthers after serving as a volunteer assistant from 2019-2021. Prior to joining the UNI coaching staff, Reichenberger played two season for the Panthers and two seasons at Butler Community College.

Over the past four seasons Reichenberger has worked with UNI's goalies to strengthen one of the main defensive units of the team. Reichenberger was also the Panthers starting goalie from 2017 and 2018 where she set the program season record for most shutouts in both seasons.

"I am excited to see Jami move to the Full Time assistant position," says Head Coach Bruce Erickson. "She was a great player for us and has grown significantly in the past 3 years as a Volunteer Coach. She epitomizes what it means to be a part of the Panther Soccer program and is an incredibly hard worker."

While a Butler Reichenberger earned All-Conference and All-Region honors while leading her team to a third place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament.

While at UNI Reichenberger set a MVC record for most shutouts in a season with 11 (2017). As a senior Reichenberger was named to the 2018 MVC All-Tournament Team.

Jami will focus on training our Goalkeepers, scouting opponents, assist with fundraising, player development and other duties as assigned. Jami was also named to the 2019 Central Region Team, Heartland Conference, playing for FC Wichita.

"I am very thankful that Coach Erickson gave me this opportunity to help coach at UNI. I am excited to take on a new role in helping the Women's Soccer Team compete at a high level in the Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA" said Reichenberger.

2018:Named MVC Defense Player of the Week (Aug. 27)…..Named to the 2018 MVC All-Tournament team…..Started in all 19 games for the Panthers, recording 1,714 minutes in goal….Recorded 18 career shutouts for UNI to lead the category….Nabbed 7 shutouts this season….Had 119 saves, with 17 goals allowed

2017: Has played in 20 games, starting each game while seeing action in 1746 minutes for the Panthers this season. She has had 64 saves this season with a save percentage of 0.821% and a goalkeeper record of 14-5-1 with 11 shutouts. Her shutouts are a conference record, the previous record was 10. Reichenberger was named to the All-MVC Second Team.

Butler CC: All-Region, first- team all-city and second-team all-state selection sophomore year … first-team all-city, all-metro and all-state selection junior and senior year … finished third at state as a senior … started as a freshman at Butler Community College … .45 goals against average … set single-season team records in shutouts (18) … led the NJCAA in games played (24), wins (21), shutouts (18) and minutes played (2187:00) … earned All-KJCCC and All-Region VI second team honors as a freshman … placed third in the NJCAA National Tournament … KJCCC west and All Region VI first team honors as a sophomore.

High School: Played all four years for the Bishop Carroll Golden Eagles under head coach Greg Rauch… was an All-Region, first-team All-City and second-team All-State selection her sophomore year… was a first-team All-City, All-Metro and All-State selection in both her junior and senior years… helped Bishop Carroll take third at the 5A state tournament in 2015 as a senior... participated in the 2014 Butler All-Star Soccer Showcase and was named the MVP… also lettered two years in volleyball… played club for the KRW Cholita Strikers under head coach Jeff Carron.

Personal: Born May 17, 1997 ... daughter of Ron and Joni Reichenberger… has four siblings (sisters Jana, Jeni, Jaci and Jesi)… graduated from University of Northern Iowa with BA in Exercise Science.