Upper Iowa University will be reducing the number of sport programs offered within the Peacock Athletics Department.
 
Following the end of competitions this May, the University will discontinue seven sport programs including men and women's bowling, men's cross country, men's indoor and outdoor track and field, women's tennis and shotgun sports.
 
"This is a very difficult day for Upper Iowa Athletics, several of our student-athletes and coaches, and a number of our teams," said Vice President for Athletics Rick Hartzell. "A decision like this is never easy. My heart aches for our coaches and student-athletes who are impacted by these unfortunate, yet necessary, actions."
 
Upper Iowa is not immune to the growing challenge nationwide to meet the financial resources needed to maintain competitive intercollegiate athletics. Along with resources, facilities and support staffing needs play a large role in these decisions of how to move forward as a University and NCAA Division II athletics department.
 
"The hard truth is that Upper Iowa cannot continue to support such a high number of intercollegiate programs given the reduction of tuition revenue that is being generated currently by fewer number of students who are attending colleges across the country," continued Hartzell. "We have to reduce our sport offerings to better match our resources, facilities and staff within our athletic program."
 
The Peacock Athletics Department will continue to sponsor 16 sport programs moving forward including football, volleyball, men and women's soccer, women's cross country, men and women's basketball, men's wrestling, women's indoor track and field, softball, baseball, women's outdoor track and field, men and women's golf, and the fully-endowed cheer and dance program. Upper Iowa is also committed to the on-time launch and development of the women's wrestling program for the fall of 2024.
 
Hartzell stated, "We are committed to having an athletics program that is competitive and offers a quality student-athlete experience for our student-athletes. An athletics program that gives our coaches a chance to coach and succeed at a very high level. The goal is to chase championships here in all of our remaining sport programs."
 
Upper Iowa is closing out their 17th and final year in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference this May. The Peacock Athletics Department will compete as a full member in the Great Lakes Valley Conference beginning in the fall of 2023.
 
"We are looking forward to moving to the Great Lakes Valley Conference this coming fall, and while this current reduction in programs is difficult, we will offer all the core sports in the GLVC. We expect to have a very competitive athletics program in our new league, where we can compete for championships and give our athletes and coaches the best experience possible."
 
Any questions may be directed to Rick Hartzell, UIU Vice President for Athletics, at hartzellr53@uiu.edu or Howie Thompson, UIU Associate AD for Internal Operations and Communications, at thompsonh@uiu.edu.