Chris Kowalski

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).