Wrestling Hall of Famer Adds Another Feather to His Cap, Named as Interim Athletic Director at UNI

Mark Nook, president of the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), announced that ex-Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby will be returning as the Athletic Director after almost three decades. Bowlsby has held the position from 1983 to 1981. The 2004 Panthers’ wrestling Hall of Famer is also a Native of Iowa. After his departure from UNI, Bowlsby has held multiple important positions and finally retired as the Commissioner of the Big 12 in 2022.

Now, in a post, the official UNI account has announced the news of Bowlsby taking over the Panthers once more. Bowlsby’s collegiate athletics career was kicked off during his time at Cedar Falls and things might be cooking already once again. With his return, the Panthers will surely look forward to restoring their former glory in the coming season.

UNI legend returns to take the reigns

In a recent post on X, the UNI account revealed that Bob Bowlsby has agreed to serve as the interim AD for the school’s athletic programs. The Hall of Famer will be going back to his roots and embark on a new journey at the age of 71. However, this isn’t the first time Bowlsby will be stepping on Panthers’ grounds since 1991. He is currently serving as a member of the steering committee for the UNI’s Our Tomorrow Campaign.

Bowlsby will be released from his duties after a nationwide search yields positive results and a person who can fill the position in a full-time role is found. After the news was revealed, Bowlsby expressed his fondness for the Panthers. “Very few opportunities could have lured me out of retirement, even on a short-term basis“, said the Hall of Famer.

Bowlsby mentioned that he’s remained forever grateful to UNI for providing him with a platform during his early days as a collegiate athletics professional. “I owe a great deal to UNI, and it is my distinct pleasure to serve in this interim role“, stated Bowlsby.

The Panthers looking to get back on their feet

After their eviction from a famous training facility, the UNI athletics division has unveiled plans for their own gym that would stay the benchmark in the industry for the next 100 years.

Read more: University of Northern Iowa Wrestling Coach Dives Into the Significance of “Adversaries” to Elevate Competition on Day One of Training

The blueprint of the building has been approved and work will commence soon. It waits to be seen how Bowlsby’s return as the interim Athletics Director impacts the events in the coming days and how the Panthers make the most of the unexpected development.

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