Rick Hartzell joined the Upper Iowa University Athletics Department as the Peacock's director of athletics in January 2018. Prior to the 2019-20 academic year, Hartzell was promoted to Vice President for Athletics.
Hartzell is no stranger to northeast Iowa; he served as the director of athletics at Northern Iowa from 1999 through 2008. During his time with the Panthers, he oversaw 18 intercollegiate sports, 475 student-athletes, 65 coaches, 7 administrators and 22 support staff. Hartzell initiated the construction plans for the McLeod Center and worked hand-in-hand with the Northern Iowa Development Office to raise all of the required funds to build the facility.
Prior to his arrival at Northern Iowa, Hartzell was the director of athletics at both Bucknell University from 1988 through 1999 and the University of Maryland - Baltimore County from 1985 to 1988. In his time in athletic administration, Hartzell developed championship-level athletic programs, found success in fund raising and hired several highly successful head coaches and staff.
In addition to his three stints as director of athletics, Hartzell held administrative positions at Northwestern University and University of Iowa and coaching positions at Iowa, Coe College and Northern Iowa.
