Northern Iowa has hired two-time Pioneer League coach of the year Todd Stepsis to a five-year contract as its new head football coach, it was announced Tuesday.
"I have a great appreciation for the winning tradition of UNI Football, as well as the litany of respected and highly successful head coaches who have held this role," Stepsis said in a release.
Stepsis had a 29-32 record over the past six seasons as coach at Drake, including back-to-back FCS playoff berths over the past two seasons in which the Bulldogs lost in the first round.
"Todd is the absolute right leader of the next era of men in the UNI locker room and on the coaching staff, and he will embrace our storied alumni," athletic director Megan Frankln said.
Stepsis replaces Mark Farley, who retired after the season as the winningest football coach in both Northern Iowa and Missouri Valley Conference history with 183 victories. He guided the Panthers to seven conference titles, earned two conference Coach of the Year awards and was named the 2007 FCS National Coach of the Year.