Bruce Erickson

Head Coach
7th Season
269-215-43
Record at UNI: 44-43-17

Previously:
Wayne State (Neb.)
Creighton University

Erickson is in his seventh year as the Panthers head women’s soccer coach after taking over the job on Feb. 10, 2017. He is the sixth head coach in program history after serving as the head women’s soccer coach at Wayne State (Neb.) for two years and prior to that was the head women’s soccer coach at Creighton University from 1999-2014. In 26 years as a head coach at the collegiate level, Erickson has compiled an overall record of 274-226-43.

Last season Panthers finished with a 5-11 record. The Panthers finished with 23 goals, 19 assists and 92 shots on goal. Jordyn Rolli was named a Second Team All-MVC performer while Lizzie Mewes made the MVC All-Freshman Team. Sydney Hayden capped off her career with a First Team Scholar Athlete honor, Jordyn Rolli landed as a First Team Scholar Athlete for the first time in her career. Team was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

In 2018, Erickson led the Panthers to a 2nd straight winning season and a 9-7-3 overall record. The team set records for most goals in a game (10), assists in a game (8), and points in a game (28). The single-season mark for shots on goal was set at 134. Four team members earned spots on the MVC Scholar-Athlete team following the season. Hannah McDevitt became the all-time career leader in assists (12) and games played (79). Brynell Yount recorded eight career game-winning goals and goal keeper Jami Reichenberger extended her mark for career shutouts to 18. Team was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

In his first season at the helm of the UNI women’s soccer program, Erickson guided the Panthers to their best season in program history with a school record 14 victories and their first appearance in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game. The team set single-season marks in points (97), goals (34), goals per game (1.70), assists (29), shots (309), shots on goal (142) and shutouts (11).

Brynell Yount set the UNI single-season records for goals (11) and points (24). Yount earned First-Team All-MVC honor and was named to the United Soccer Coaches’ Third-Team All-Midwest Region squad. Goalkeeper Jami Reichenberger set the MVC and program single-season record for shutouts (11). Sydney Hayden received the MVC’s Elite 17 Award at the conference tournament. Team was awarded the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

Erickson guided Wayne State to nine victories in 2016, the most wins for the NCAA Division II program since the 2006 season. In 2016, Wayne State was Regionally Ranked by the NSCAA for the first time, reaching as high as 9th in the Central Region. In each season he was at Wayne State, the Wildcats earned the NSCAA team academic award. 
At Creighton, Erickson was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year (2002, 2010) and helped guide the Bluejays to five Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Championships, two Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Championships and led Creighton to five NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010). Erickson ended his 16-year tenure at Creighton as the winningest coach in school history with a record of 163-125-32.

Erickson was a NLCAA All-American Goalkeeper and Team Captain at Viterbo University. He is a 2001 member of the schools Hall of Fame as a player and 4-Time Coach of the Year (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998).

Erickson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial organizational psychology from Viterbo University in 1990. Erickson has three children – Emma (24), Olivia (22) and Noah (19). 

Jami Reichenberger

Assistant Coach
5th Season

Previously:
UNI Soccer Team

Reichenberger is in her fifth year as a member of the UNI coaching staff. Prior to joining the staff, Reichenberger played two seasons for the Panthers and two seasons at Butler Community College.

While at Butler Reichenberger earned All-Conference and All-Region honors while leading her team to a third place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament. At Butler she holds records for most wins (21) and shutouts in a season (18). Over her two year career she holds the records for wins (39) shutouts (27.5) and minutes played (3887).

While at UNI Reichenberger set and holds a MVC record for most shutouts in a season with 11 (2017). As a senior Reichenberger was named to the 2018 MVC All-Tournament Team. She also holds the UNI records for GAA (.79)  and most career shutouts (18).

Reichenberger played three years in the WPSL for FC Wichita, the first year being the inaugural season and the following two she was named to the All Conference team. 

Reichenberger graduated from UNI in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Movement and Exercise Science. She also coaches for Iowa Rush North in Waverly, Iowa.

Kyle Nelson

Assistant Coach

2nd Season

Kyle Nelson joined the UNI women's soccer staff in the spring of 2022 as a part-time assistant coach. Nelson will focus on the attacking side of the ball with Panther soccer along with other responsibilities. 

Nelson joins UNI soccer from the Cedar Valley Soccer Club in Waterloo, Iowa. Nelson began his time with the local club as their Director of Coaching after holding the same position at Decorah United Soccer Club. In July of 2021, Nelson was promoted to the Executive Director of the Cedar Valley Soccer Club.

Before becoming a Director of Coaching, Nelson has a long history as an assistant and full-time professional coach. Nelson has made coaching stops at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Johnston Urbandale Soccer Club, Sporting Iowa Soccer Academy, Wartburg College, Cedar Valley Youth Soccer Association, Luther College, and Decorah High School.

Nelson is a 2008 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa where he also played soccer for four years. Nelson was a two-year starter at Luther College in 2006 and 2007. 

Chris Kowalski

Assistant Coach
7th Season

Previously:
Cedar Falls High School
FC Midwest Soccer Academy

Kowalski enters his Seventh year with the Panthers after joining in 2017. Prior to UNI, he served as the Head Girls Soccer Coach at Cedar Falls High School and as the director of operations for FC Midwest Soccer Academy.

From 2015-2017, Kowalski served as the head coach for the Cedar Falls High School girls’ soccer team. His teams went to three sub-state finals and finished the 2017 season ranked in the top 15 for the state of Iowa for the first time in school history.

From 2004-2012, he served as the director of operations for FC Midwest Soccer Academy, as well as the head coach for the U13, U17 and U18 Girls Teams. During his tenure with FC Midwest, Kowalski coached over 30 players who subsequently competed as collegiate student-athletes at the NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA levels.

Kowalski also serves as a Professor in the Recreation, Tourism & Nonprofit Leadership Program at UNI. He has spent 20 years teaching in the division, and his research involves topics related to youth development and success in athletics, including coaching efficacy, leadership, and hazing/bullying prevention. He has co-authored or written chapters for nine books as well as published over 50 articles and presentations at the state, national, and international levels.
   
Kowalski holds NSCAA Regional, Goalkeeping I, and Zonal Defending diplomas.  He also has his USSF “D” License. He earned his doctorate in education with an emphasis in youth development from the University of Northern Iowa, his master’s degree in recreation management from the University of Idaho, and his bachelor’s degrees in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice from Creighton University.
He resides in Cedar Falls with his wife, Crystal, and their two children, Norah (7) and Lukas (5).