CEDAR FALLS – UNI Director of Athletics David Harris announced contract extensions for four UNI coaches; Chris Sagers (Women’s Tennis), Nick Lakin (Women’s Swim and Dive), Bruce Erickson (Women’s Soccer) and John Bermel (Golf).
“These coaches continue to pursue excellence and recruit student-athletes that are both competitive in the field of play and excel in the classroom,” Harris said. “We are excited to see their future growth under the leadership of these tremendous coaches.”
The two-year contract extensions for Erickson and Bermel were completed during the summer but weren’t announced during the turmoil of the cancelation of the fall season. Both contracts now run through their respective seasons in 2022.
Sagers’ extension runs through the 2023 season and Lakin’s runs through 2024.
Behind Erickson’s leadership, the Panthers made the championship game of the 2017 MVC tournament after going 14-5-1 overall that season. This fall in the classroom, the Panthers posted a team 3.67 GPA.
Bermel’s women’s golf team looked to be the favorite to win the MVC championship before it was canceled. The Panther women’s team posted a semester GPA of 3.62 while the men notched a 3.52 team GPA.
Under Lakin’s guidance, the Panther swimming and diving team finished fourth at the MVC championship in 2019 and fifth in 2020. The Panthers have nearly completely turned over the school record book in recent years all while excelling in the classroom. The Panthers recorded a UNI-best semester GPA of 3.82 which tied for the third-best of any team in the nation.
Sagers led the Panthers to a program-best second-place finish at the 2018 MVC tournament. The group also excels in the classroom with a team 3.59 GPA.
