By: Howie Thompson, Director of Sports Communication

Upper Iowa University will reinstate the Peacock men's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field programs, effective for the 2019-20 academic year. 

"It is an exciting time for UIU Athletics," President William R. Duffy said. "The return of men's cross country and track and field comes on the heels of the recent additions of bowling, esports and women's lacrosse to our successful Division II athletic programming. With these new athletics programs, we not only have opportunities for student-athletes who specialize in these sports to benefit from the exceptional education available at UIU, but we further diversify our celebrated athletics culture and increase the engagement opportunities available to our current students, alumni and community."

The three programs push UIU's total of sport programs to 23 set to compete during the 2019-20 academic year. Upper Iowa has now added 12 programs since the university's move up to NCAA Division II prior to the 2005-06 academic year. Upper Iowa reinstated the first six programs, which include women's lacrosse, cheer, women's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's cross country and women's tennis, between 2007 and 2017. Esports, women's and men's bowling came on board in January 2018.
 
"We are excited to bring men's cross country and track and field back to Upper Iowa," said Director of Athletics Rick Hartzell. "This program will allow the male student-athletes of the Midwest who are interested in continuing their academic and running careers a great opportunity to do so.  We have a great coaching staff led by Nate Rucker and we are committed to building a first rate men's track and cross country program starting in the fall of 2019."

UIU suspended all of its cross country, track and tennis programs for men and women following the 2003-04 academic year as the University moved up to the NCAA Division II.

All three programs will compete in the Northern Sun Conference. Upper Iowa will join 12 other teams in the NSIC competing for the cross country championship and 11 schools vying for both the NSIC indoor and outdoor titles.
 
"I'd like to thank Dr. Duffy, the Upper Iowa Board of Trustees and Rick Hartzell for the opportunity to not only reinstate the men's cross country and track and field program at the University, but also to support the programs with a quality coaching staff," said Head Cross Country and Track Coach Nate Rucker.
 
Rucker will direct both the women's and men's cross country and track and field programs as the head coach. With the addition of the men's program, the coaching staff will grow from Rucker and a graduate assistant to Rucker, a full-time assistant and a pair of graduate assistants.
 
Rucker continued, "The return of the men's programs is a great opportunity for the boy's competing with the cross country and track and field high school programs across the state of Iowa to compete at the NCAA Division II level in their home state. As well, we will work hard to recruit the region for the best talent to fit both the academic and athletic profiles of Upper Iowa."

Historically, Upper Iowa reorganized and developed its cross country and track and field programs into a full-time part of UIU Athletic programs in 1983 under the leadership of then newly-appointed Athletic Director Don Butterbaugh. Previously, the University had relied on student-athletes from other Peacock athletic programs to compete in cross country and track and field rather than recruiting student-athletes solely for those programs.  
 
The three programs began to hit their stride and find success in the mid-90's prior to Upper Iowa's move up to NCAA Division II. In 1995, the Peacock cross country team placed second at the Iowa Conference Championship. Led by IIAC Coach of the Year, Tom Raunig, Upper Iowa placed four runners in the top ten including Steve Bonifer (4^th, 26:06), Blaine Stulc (6^th, 26:18), Carl Old Person (7^th, 26:43) and James Knoche (9^th, 26:58).
 
The track and field programs in 1996 and 1997 were led by UIU Hall of Famer Dennis Black (1997), who earned five NCAA All-American honors in indoor and outdoor field events. He earned four of the All-American recognitions for his efforts in the indoor and outdoor Shot Put in both 1996 and 1997, as well as the outdoor Discuss in 1996. He competed at the Olympic Trials in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Black still holds the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's, now the American Rivers Conference, record for shot put with a throw of 19.18 m, or 62' 11.25". After his junior season in 1996, he was named the Iowa Conference M.V.P.

"We have a solid foundation on the women's side and are excited to go through the building process again with the men," said Rucker. "I believe that with the return of the men's program not only will the women's program take bigger strides forward, but the entire athletics department as well."