New Athletic Director To Be Named At UNI

The search for a new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics has ended at the University of Northern Iowa.

School officials have scheduled a news conference at the McLeod Center to introduce Troy Dannen's replacement at 2 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 24, 2016).

The search committee recently narrowed the field of candidates to three finalists. Iowa State senior associate athletic director David Harris, departing Montana State athletic director Peter Fields, and Minnesota State-Mankato athletic director Kevin Buisman were all known to have visited the Cedar Falls campus last week as part of the interview process.

Buisman, however, won't be filling the vacancy. The ex-UNI football player withdrew his name from consideration on Monday, according to a press statement released by Minnesota State-Mankato.

"As an alumnae, this was a professional development opportunity that held a great deal of intrigue and one I fully explored as a finalist through a comprehensive on-campus interview process," Buisman said in the release. "After further reflecting on both that experience and my current circumstances, I have reached the conclusion that this was not quite the right fit for me and my family at this particular time."

Buisman is a native of Marion, who began is administrative career at his alma mater.

The job of athletics director opened up at UNI in December, when Dannen accepted a similar position at Tulane University in New Orleans. Jean Berger has been serving as UNI's interim athletic director since Dannen's departure.

Earlier this month, Berger was named the new Executive Director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. She'll begin her new job with the IGHSAU this summer.