Fri Jan 18 19:31:46 2008

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Northern Iowa AD Hartzell resigns

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Cedar Falls, IA (Sports Network) - University of Northern Iowa director of athletics Rick Hartzell announced his resignation Friday, effective January 31.

Hartzell became UNI's AD in August of 1999, with his current contract due to expire in June of 2009. Tom Schellhardt, the school's vice president for administration and finance, said an interim athletic director will be named by February 1, and the school will begin conducting a nationwide search for Hartzell's permanent replacement as soon as possible.

"Under Rick's leadership and guidance our athletic programs and student- athletes have set high standards, both on the field and in the classroom," said Northern Iowa president Benjamin Allen. "Rick has helped build a strong foundation of Panther excellence. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."

During his tenure at UNI, Hartzell has been involved in the construction of the McLeod Center and the Richard O. Jacobson Human Performance Complex, which opened this week. He is a 1974 graduate of the school who was a member of the Panthers baseball and football teams.

"I'd like to thank our great staff and coaches, and our terrific student- athletes, for all they've done to help make UNI one of the premier athletics programs in the country," Hartzell said. "I'm very proud of what we've accomplished during the last eight and a half years."

The Panthers compete in the Division I Missouri Valley Conference for all sports other than football, for which they are a member of the Football Championship Subdivision's Gateway Conference, and wrestling, which competes in the Western Wrestling Conference.