LONG-AND-STORIED HISTORY ..........2-3STATE-OF-THE-ART FUTURE .............4-5ATHLETICS EXCELLENCE ..................6-7THE BEARS PLAY HERE .....................8-9BEARS GAMEDAY ...........................10-11YOU’LL PLAY ONLY THE BEST ......12-13FIRST-CLASS TRAVEL ....................14-15POWER AND STRENGTH ................16-17

GEARED FOR SUCCESS .................18-19WE’RE HERE FOR YOU ...................20-21LENDING A HELPING HAND ..........22-23AD AND COACHES .........................24-25 A COLLEGE LIKE NO OTHER .........26-27THE CITY OF GREELEY .................28-29THIS IS COLORADO .......................30-31WHY THE BEARS? ...............................32

This Northern Colorado Athletics Recruiting Guide was written, designed and edited by Scott Ward. Assistance was provided by Heather Kennedy and Dana Miller. Photography provided by Paul Dorweiler, Scott Ward and many other unknown Bears photographers throughout the years. For all the latest news and happenings with Northern Colorado athletics, click on uncbears.com. Enjoy!

Northern Colorado’s state-of-the-art Butler-Han-cock Athletic Center renovation was unveiled at the end of summer 2010 and continued the athletic

department’s push to be one of the best programs in the West and the very best in the Big Sky Conference.

Included in the renovation to the 37-year old building are new multifunction classroom spaces, large flexible meeting spaces, a video center and the new home of the Northern Colo-rado Athletic Medicine Teaching Center, including the relocation of the Dan Libera Athletic Training Room, which will include a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool.

A new strength and conditioning center was also unveiled, along with spacious new team rooms for the softball and wrestling programs, renovations to the swimming and diving locker facility, lockers and changing spaces for all athletic teams and a renovated football team room that includes custom designed lockers and two coaches locker rooms.

The signature piece of the project is the long-awaited Northern Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame and Sports Museum, which was on the north side of Butler-Han-cock Athletic Center. The Hall of Fame proudly displays names of student-athletes, coaches and honored contributors who have pre-viously been enshrined in the Hall of Fame, and those to come in the future, and features a video-display system that en-ables visitors to call up any Northern Colorado Hall of Fame member on-demand and view the accomplishments of that particular member.

All the new and renovated spaces planned in the project were designed to serve Northern Colorado student-athletes, staff members, fans and alumni with the highest level of quality and amenities.

Hospitality areas for game-day activities as well as special events are included adjacent to the Athletic Hall of Fame and Sports Museum, which features color graphics and large murals, highlighting the Bears’ rich athletic tradition and has become a year-round destination location for visitors to Greeley and fans of Northern Colorado history.

The University contracted with international-contractor Hensel Phelps Construction, based in Greeley since 1937, for the construc-tion and renovation project, while partnering with Denver-based Sink Combs Dethlefs to provide quality building design and archi-tectural and engineering services.

The New Butler-Hancock Athletic Center was proudly the first building at UNC certified as meeting the Leadership in En-ergy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for “green” buildings. LEED des-ignation certifies that a building meets a wide range of envi-ronmentally friendly criteria.

This now-complete renovation and construction to one of the landmarks of the University of Northern Colorado campus has no doubt transformed the facility into a much-deserved showcase for Northern Colorado athletics and has the Bears poised to enjoy one of the finest on-campus facili-ties in the Big Sky Conference.

P laying for any one of Northern Colora-do’s 19 athletic programs means com-peting against some of the very best

teams in the country -- simple as that.Northern Colorado coaches constantly scour the coun-

try and burn up the phone lines to ensure that their teams get the necessary experience and exposure to grow and evolve into championship-caliber programs.

It’s often been said that “to be the best you have to beat the best,” and nowhere is that more apparent than with the Bears, who have competed in recent years against teams from conferences like the ACC, Atlan-tic 10, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, Mountain West, PAC-10, SEC and the WAC.

And when the UNC programs aren’t testing themselves on the national stage, they compete in some of the country’s best conferences. A majority of the Bear programs compete in the Big Sky, a league continu-ally regarded for its national prowess, especially in terms of FCS football, while others compete in the America Sky Golf Conference (men’s golf), Conference USA (swimming and diving), Great West (baseball), Pacific Coast Softball Confer-ence and the Western Wrestling Conference.

One of the many reasons why Northern Colorado de-cided to make the switch to the NCAA Division I level was because of the better opportunities the switch afforded its student-athletes.

Here’s a closer look at some of the top-notch programs Northern Colorado has faced in recent years or will face in upcoming seasons:

OPPONENT SPORTArizona State BaseballArkansas SoftballCalifornia Men’s basketballColorado Tennis, track, volleyballColorado State Football, tennis, track, volleyball, softballFlorida GolfFlorida State Women’s basketballGonzaga Men’s basketballHawaii Football, men’s basketball, golfIowa Men’s basketballKansas Baseball, football, women’s basketballMaryland Women’s basketballMissouri GolfNebraska Baseball, track, soccer, wrestlingNorth Carolina WrestlingOklahoma Men’s basketballOklahoma State WrestlingOregon Men’s basketballPurdue FootballRice Golf, swimming and divingSan Diego State Men’s basketballSouthern Mississippi Baseball, swimming and divingSyracuse Men’s basketballTennessee SoftballTexas A&M BaseballUCONN Women’s basketballWashington Women’s basketball

One of the many perks of being a NCAA Division I athlete is getting a chance to see the country -- and sometimes the world -- as you compete in your sport of choice.

That’s no different at Northern Colorado, where each of our 19 ath-letic programs not only compete against some of the best competition in the country, they also travel to those events in the best possible accommodations, and in many cases by charter flight.

It’s Northern Colorado’s goal for its athletes to be fresh and ready to take on all-comers when they arrive for “road” contests, so every arrange-ment is made to ensure its players, coaches and traveling support staff are comfortable while traveling and upon arrival.

In recent years, the Bears have traveled everywhere from China (volleyball), to New York City (women’s basket-ball) to West Lafayette, Ind., (football) to Hawaii (football, women’s golf and men’s basketball). And they all got there by charter bus to Denver International Airport, voted in 2005 the “Best Airport in North America” by readers of Business Traveler Magazine, and then to their destination city with the help of any of the ma-jor worldwide airline carriers that operate on a daily basis.

Northern Colorado athletics is going places, and it’s getting there in style and comfort.

Northern Colorado student-athletes benefit greatly from a comprehensive and individualized strength-and-condi-

tioning program that’s designed by Lavell “Dinky” Williams, the Bears’ director of strength & conditioning and sports per-formance. Williams’ plan ensures Northern Colorado com-petes in all of its contests at the highest possible level of physical readiness.

Williams and his staff work alongside all the Northern Colorado coaches to devise and implement instruction that’s specific to individual student-athletes and teams, both in and out of season.

Williams is dedicated to developing all the Bears student-athletes to excel to their fullest potential in the weight room and on the field or court. They achieve this through the implementation of sound research in the strength-and-conditioning field and are committed to de-veloping effective programming for the improvement of speed, agility, strength and power. Their philosophy is to focus on Olympic-style lifting and the utilization of other traditional lifts, including squats, deadlifts and bench work.

Helping in this pursuit is Northern Colorado’s state-of-the-art Strength & Conditioning Center, which opened in summer 2010 as part of a massive renovation and construc-tion project to Butler-Hancock Sports Complex. The facility helps Williams achieve his goals for Northern Colorado student-athletes and also brings the Bears’ strength and conditioning program up to and beyond anything else that’s available in the Big Sky Conference.

If you’re going to play the part, you’ve got to look the part. And that’s why Northern Colorado, as it contin-ues its trek toward becoming an NCAA Division I leader, has

devoted a large chunk of its resources toward outfitting all of the Bears with the very best athletic equipment and apparel.

Northern Colorado student-athletes, coaches and support staff are all equipped in gear from some of the

nation’s best names in athletics, including Adidas,

Asics, Easton, New Balance, Nike, Mizuno, Prince, Titleist,

Under Armour and Wilson.

And when the Bears aren’t on their fields of play, they still look their best in the some of the finest pregame, travel and everyday gear around.

A craftsman is never supposed to blame his tools, but as stu-dent-athletes all across the country continue to evolve, the gear they are in on game day can have a distinct advantage. So, whenever any Northern Colorado student-athletes steps on the playing surface, they know they are wearing the best apparel and using the best equip-ment possible as they strive to become champions.

Northern Colorado is serious about the role it plays in the lives of its more than 400 student-athletes and for that reason has systematically designed myriad programs to

meet their ever-changing needs.

ACADEMIC SUCCESSUNC’s student-athletes are some of the brightest on the UNC campus

-- the Bears are the reigning champions in Big Sky Conference graduation rate -- and the educational resources at their disposal is a big reason for that.

All Northern Colorado student-athletes have year-round ac-cess to the athletic department’s Harrison Aca-demic Success Center as well as free and unlimited tutoring. They also get the chance to take part in supervised study halls and on-campus academic advising with Jimmy Henderson, Northern Colorado’s assistant athletic director for academic success.

MEDIA RELATIONSNorthern Colorado athletics continues to im-

press -- on and off the court -- and the Bears’ Media Relations of-fice, under the direction of director Heather Kennedy, is in charge of chronicling those successes and making local, state and national media outlets aware of the great things happening in Greeley. It’s been said that “athletics are the handshake of a univer-

sity,” and Kennedy and her staff are in charge of extending that hand-shake as far as possible and generating as much exposure as possible for all the Northern Colorado student-athletes.

Within the past few years, Bears student-athletes and coaches have been featured nationally in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four program, the Sugar Bowl Halftime Show and vari-ous ESPN platforms, while gaining statewide attention on Altitude and Fox Sports Rocky Mountain and in the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News, and local acclaim in the Greeley Tribune, Ft. Collins Coloradoan and on KFKA, the radio voice of the Bears.

SPORTS MEDICINEUnder the direction of head athletic trainer Rawley Klingsmith,

Northern Colorado’s Sports Medicine department is one of the very finest in the country and arguably the best in the Big Sky Conference.

Klingsmith leads a team of seven full-time athletic train-ers and a dozen interns and graduate assistants. The department also continuously consults with a team of six physicians located in and around the Greeley area.

And as part of Northern Colorado’s ongoing construction and renovation project, the Bears’ Sports Medicine department is in

line in 2010 to move into a brand new athletic training room that will include the latest in sports-medicine

technologies, including a hydrother-apy plunge pool.

Northern Colorado student-athletes are leaders in their fields of play and in the com-

munity. They know that wearing the blue and gold is about more than wins and losses. It’s also about interacting with the public and making a positive im-pact in the lives of others.

Many of the Bears athletic programs take part in planned community-service projects throughout the year, like Habitat for Hu-manity, while other programs donate their time and resources to more specific causes, like reading to area elementary schools or holding free youth camps to in-troduce area youngsters to various sports.

The University of Northern Colorado as well as the UNC athletic department only accept some of the finest stu-dents and student-athletes in the world, and once they arrive on campus the impact they make on campus and off is immeasur-able.

Jay S. Hinrichs was appointed director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Northern Colorado on Aug. 23, 2004.

And in his short time on the job, he has changed the face and the history of Bears athletics.

Since his hiring, Hinrichs has directed the program’s reclassification process to the NCAA Division I level, se-cured Northern Colorado’s membership in the Big Sky Conference and helped lead a successful university-wide student-fee referendum that resulted in a $16 million expansion-and-renovation project for the university’s ath-letic, recreation and club-sport facilities. Hinrichs was also key in securing an additional $14.5 million from the state of Colorado for continued renovations to Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion, which began during summer 2009.

Hinrichs came to Greeley with much experience in big-time athletics, and it didn’t take him long to begin Northern Colorado’s trek to that level.

The Bears have hosted multiple NCAA Division I championship events and Hinrichs has been success-ful in attracting top-level coaches from some of the nation’s top programs, including football coach Scott

Downing (Nebraska), men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle (Wichita State) and women’s basketball coach Jaime White (Wyoming).

Hinrichs came to Northern Colorado after serving as associate athletic director for facilities planning at Kansas. He previously was the director of KU’s Williams Educa-tional Fund, a 4,600-member donor organization.

Prior to his time at Kansas, Hinrichs served for 18 years in a variety of senior-management positions with the Kansas City Royals.

Hinrichs has also served in the community as a board of directors member and Chairman of the Board of the Kansas and Western Missouri affiliate of the Na-tional Kidney Foundation and as a board member of the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. He is also a member of the United Way of Weld County Board of Directors.

Hinrichs, 51, earned his bachelor’s degree in person-nel administration and psychology (1980) and his mas-ter’s degree in business administration (1983) from the University of Kansas.

He is married to the former Julie Miller of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and they have one son, Jared

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Northern Colorado supports and contributes to the university’s mission to be a leading student-centered institution that promotes effective teaching, lifelong learn-ing, the advancement of knowledge, research and a commitment to service.

The University of Northern Colorado commits to the success of its students by providing a solid liberal arts foundation, relevant professional course-

work and real-world experiences in an environment where faculty and staff value personal attention as a key to learning.

The university’s five colleges offer more than 100 under-graduate programs of study, which include a nationally rec-ognized business school, innovative nursing programs and award-winning theatre arts and teacher-education programs.

With its rich 118-year history, dedicated faculty, active students and NCAA Division I athletic teams, the University of North-ern Colorado is large enough to provide true uni-versity opportunities, and small enough to treat students as individuals.

There are five colleges on campus, including the nationally acclaimed Kenneth W. Monfort College of Business, Education and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities and Social Sci-ences, Natural and Health Sciences and Performing and Visual Arts.

The Monfort College of Business was the nation’s first and only business college to receive the Mal-colm Baldridge National Quality Award from the

Office of the President of the United States and U.S. Department of Commerce, the nation’s highest honor for quality and performance excellence.

And Down Beat magazine has given Northern Colorado’s Jazz Studies program, out of the College of Performing and Vi-sual Arts, more than 100 awards in the past 25 years. The University Symphony Orchestra has also been honored as the “Best College Orchestra” six times in the past nine years.

Students from 46 states and 37 countries comprise the enrollment at the University of Northern Colorado, and many of those students attend the Greeley campus every year with the help of nearly $75 million in grants, loans, work-study pro-grams and scholarships.

The University of Northern Colo-rado is also at the forefront of college-campus technology, with 600-plus computers available for use in 13 open labs across campus, including a central-campus lab open 24 hours.

There’s no wonder why Greeley, Colorado, home to Northern Colorado’s beautiful cam-pus, is filled with easy smiles and boundless

possibilities. With the snowcapped Rocky Moun-tains less than an hour’s drive to the west and sprawling farmlands directly to the east, Greeley offers a varied experi-ence for young and old alike.

Greeley, about an hour northeast of Den-ver, is simply everything good about America. Whether you’re looking for a rodeo or a picnic, the latest Hollywood blockbuster or some live theater, an afternoon hike or a fishing trip, a concert or the hippest comedians, it’s all here. Greeley’s a great place to call home, even if its just for a few years.

The Northern Colorado region includes limitless op-portunities for family outings, lazy afternoons or affordable adventures. Greeley continues to epitomize the American West, with its open spaces, open hearts and a history as expansive and colorful as its surroundings.

Home to nearly 85,000 residents, Gree-

ley is located 4,658 feet above sea level and is the county seat of Weld County -- the largest county in the state of Colorado and almost three times the state of Rhode Island.

Plus, Greeley has proven to be a dynamic place to live. In fact, Forbes Magazine recently ranked Greeley as one of the top places in the United States for business and careers and named Weld county as having the fastest rising standard of living in America over the past five years.

The city of Greeley and the surrounding area was also the inspiration for James Michener’s novel “Cen-tennial” -- hence the James A. Michener Library on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado.

Greeley, Colorado, is one of the very finest college towns in the West and argu-ably the best in the Big Sky Conference. And with more than 300 days of sunshine per year, you’ll have plenty of time outside the classroom to get out and explore one of the nation’s most picturesque states.

Everything you’ve hard about the state of Colorado is true, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better lo-

cation to embark on your collegiate athletic career.The 38th member of the United States, Colo-

rado, “The Centennial State,” offers up to its residents and visitors so many different types of activities and experi-ences that it’s difficult to describe in a few short paragraphs.

Colorado is a four-season destination offering world-class adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heri-tage, flavorful cuisine, and renowned ski resort areas. The state’s breathtaking natu-ral landscape boasts natural hot springs, hundreds of lakes and rivers, 10 national parks and monu-ments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet.

And located at the base of the Rocky Moun-tains and about an hour south of Greeley is Den-ver, one of America’s most active, respected and beautiful cities.

Denver is also the cream of the crop when it comes to professional sports. The Colo-rado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rockies (MLB), Denver Broncos (NFL) and the Denver Nuggets (NBA) all represent Denver and the state of Colo-rado and all play downtown in Invesco Field, Coors Field or the Pepsi Center.

Denver has in recent years been voted the “Nation’s Top Sports Town” by The Sporting News, and it has had plenty of success in recent years with most of its profes-sional franchises.

The Broncos claimed consecutive Super Bowl titles in the 1990s, the Rockies seem to always celebrate “Rocktober,” the Avalanche is one of the NHL’s premier franchises and the Nuggets are in the middle of a resurgence.

Yes, Colorado has it all. The only thing missing is you.

“I chose Northern Colorado for a few reasons. I knew I wanted to dive in college and on my recruiting trip to Greeley I immediately fell in love with the program, campus, and coaching staff.

All of the swimmers and divers were extremely welcoming, and they all made me feel like I already belonged. Secondly, my sister was already a Bear, and I wanted to continue div-ing with her. All the great things she had told me about campus life made me feel like Northern Colorado was a great fit. Also, I knew I wanted to get a great education, even though I had no idea what I wanted to study. Northern Colorado offers many diverse programs with great reputations so I knew I would

be able to receive a great education."

KELLY

SCHMECKPEPER-COOK

DENVER, COLO.

"The chance to pitch for a pro-gram with so much Division I history and to get to face some of the nation’s best teams was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m majoring in business, and for that you can’t do much better than the Monfort College of Business. And throw in Greeley being just an hour or so from my home and the great overall college experience that Northern Colorado provides made what could have been an extremely difficult decision a no brainer."

JOE WILLMAN,-

AURORA, COLO.

“Since the first day I stepped on campus, I knew UNC was for me. It’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and the values and traditions promoted are right in line with my own. I’m major-ing in finance, and the Monfort Col-lege of Business is one of the world’s top-ranked programs in that area. And the coaches and diversity of our practice facilities played a key part in my decision. Northern Colorado has it all, and my time here has been great.”

ALBERTO DELL’ANNA

PLATJA D’ARO, SPAIN

“When I heard UNC was interested in me, I went on a visit and

immediately fell in love with the

campus, the soft-ball program and the

coaches. I knew it was a fairly new program, and that excited me because I want to help start something great and leave a legacy behind that no one will forget. The academics are top-notch, and I love being a Bear.”

JAMIE JUELFS

FORT COLLINS, COLO.

ALLAN AITKEN National and international jazz musician project co-founder

WILLIAM ALEXANDER Member of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame

DUANE BANKS All-time winningest baseball coach at University of Iowa and led Hawkeyes to only College World Series appearance

JABRIL BANKS Member of FC Bayern Muenchen, German Professional Basketball team

CLAUDIO BATTAGLINI Coached a pair of three-time Olympians in triathlon

LARK BIRDSONGFormer GM of Colorado Xplosion (ABL), implemented women’s basketball at University of Iowa

CISCO CARLOS Former MLB pitcher (White Sox, Senators)

ERIN DEFFENBAUGH 2002 NCAA Division II National Volleyball Player of the Year

JOE DeLIO Recipient of two Purple Hearts, and has sharpened ice skates for multiple U.S. Olympians

STEVEN DIETZ National award-winning playwright

REED DOUGHTY NFL defensive back (Redskins)

R.W. EAKS Former member of PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and current member of PGA Champions Tour

HENRIETTA FORE Director of United States Mint from 2001-2005

WILLIAM M. FRASER 34th Vice Chief Staff of the United States Air Force

BRENNAN GARR Minor League Baseball pitcher in Texas Rangers organization

GREG GERMANN American actor, starred as Richard Fish in TV series Ally McBeal

DANIELLE HAGEN Finalist for 2008 Jimmy V Award

MIKE HIGGINS NBA forward (Lakers, Nuggets, Kings)

THEO HOLLAND One of the first African-American men’s basketball players to ever appear in a game inside Kentucky’s Rupp Arena

VINCENT JACKSON NFL wide receiver (Chargers)

DIRK JOHNSON NFL punter (Saints, Eagles, Bears, Cardinals)

T.R. KEATING Minor League Baseball pitcher in Baltimore Orioles organization

DAVE KELLER Former Minor League Baseball player, currently Minor League hitting instructor for Chicago Cubs

BILL KENNEY Former NFL QB (Chiefs) and Missouri state senator

CARLOTTA LaNIER Member of historic Little Rock Nine, who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957

CORTE McGUFFEY 1999 Harlon Hill Trophy winner

DON MEYER All-time winningest NCAA men’s basketball coach

JAMES A. MICHENER American author of more than 40 titles

CAROL MUTTER First woman in US Armed Forces history to be appointed three-star general status

NEAL RUBIN Author of nationally-syndicated comic strip Gil Thorp

TOM RUNNELLS Bench coach for Colorado Rockies

AARON SMITH NFL lineman (Steelers), winner of two Super Bowls (XL, XLIII)

JOE STRAIN Former MLB infielder (Giants)

RICH STUBLER Former coach of Toronto Argonauts (CFL)

“SULLY” SULLENBERGER Carried out emergency ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009

FRANK WAINRIGHT Played 10 seasons in NFL (Saints, Eagles, Dolphins, Ravens)

ALENA WATTERS National entertainer, including gigs in concerts, films and TV programs

WELLINGTON WEBB Denver’s first African-American mayor

ED WERDER ESPN reporter since 1998