Justis Announces Retirement at Northern Iowa
After nearly 30 years on the job, assistant athletics director for media relations Nancy Justis has announced her retirement from the University of Northern Iowa department of athletics, effective January 2, 2006. Justis, who has been UNI’s key athletics publicist since the late 1970s, will cover her 30^th and final Panther football campaign this fall.
“Nancy Justis has been a terrific long-term employee of the UNI athletic department,” said UNI director of athletics Rick Hartzell. “I appreciate her dedication to UNI and to UNI athletics. She will be missed. We wish her nothing but the best in her retirement and in any other challenges that she takes on in the future. She has had an impact here and leaves a legacy of success of which she can certainly be proud."
Over the years, Justis has received countless publications awards from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), including most recently having UNI’s 2004 I-AA football guide judged Best in the Nation. She served as chair of CoSIDA’s Career Enhancement Committee for several years and was a founding member of the former Northeast Iowa Chapter of Women in Communications, Inc. In addition, she served as an Assistant Venue Press Chief at both the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 1987 Pan American Games hosted by Indianapolis.
"Nancy has told the story of UNI football for decades, and told it well," said UNI head football coach Mark Farley. "UNI football has earned national recognition in great part due to her efforts with the media. Even though she's moving on to other things, I know she and her family will always be Panthers. We have been colleagues and friends for more than 20 years and I wish her nothing but the best in the future."
"Nancy has been a loyal Panther for 30 years,” said UNI head men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott. “She has been an outstanding promoter of UNI basketball, and I've been fortunate enough to work with her as both a player and a coach. I'm honored to call her a friend and wish her the best in her retirement."
Justis was hired in 1974 as assistant editor in UNI’s public relations office. She was named the Panthers’ first full-time assistant sports information director in 1976. She was promoted to SID three years later, becoming one of just a handful of women nationwide to serve as media relations director, with primary responsibilities for football and men’s basketball. She was elevated to her current position of assistant A.D. in 2004.
She and her husband, Bob, who has been the Panthers’ public address announcer for football and men’s basketball games for virtually all of their 28 years of marriage, have one daughter, Nicole, who will be a junior at UNI this fall. They will continue to reside in Cedar Falls.