Troy Dannen was officially introduced, today, as the new director of athletics at the University of Northern Iowa. It is a return to his roots for Dannen who graduated from UNI. Dannen thanked everyone for allowing him to come back to campus and to Cedar Falls where his wife graduated from high school
Dannen has spent the past six years as the executive director of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. Dannen says he’s had the chance to have two dream jobs, and said when he was hired six years ago, UNI was the only job he said he wanted to leave to take.
Dannen calls himself a "UNI guy". "All of my ts, everything that’s been good about my life, has it roots in Northern Iowa. That’s why I’m a UNI guy," Dannen says. Dannen got the job despite being the only finalist who was not working in college athletics. Dannen says he took a deep look at his background and wondered if it was the right time to go to UNI.
Dannen says he wouldn’t have come to UNI if he didn’t think he could take it to the next level. Dannen replaces Rick Hartzell, who resigned back in January.