COACHING STAFF
Chris Kowalski
Assistant Coach
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 an associate professor in the Leisure, Youth & Human Services Division 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).
Jami Reichenberger
Assistant Coach
Reichenberger enters her second year as a full-time assistant coach for the Panthers after serving as a volunteer assistant from 2019-2021. Prior to joining the UNI coaching staff, Reichenberger played two season for the Panthers and two seasons at Butler Community College.
Over the past four seasons Reichenberger has worked with UNI's goalies to strengthen one of the main defensive units of the team. Reichenberger was also the Panthers starting goalie from 2017 and 2018 where she set the program season record for most shutouts in both seasons.
"I am excited to see Jami move to the Full Time assistant position," says Head Coach Bruce Erickson. "She was a great player for us and has grown significantly in the past 3 years as a Volunteer Coach. She epitomizes what it means to be a part of the Panther Soccer program and is an incredibly hard worker."
While a Butler Reichenberger earned All-Conference and All-Region honors while leading her team to a third place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament.
While at UNI Reichenberger set a MVC record for most shutouts in a season with 11 (2017). As a senior Reichenberger was named to the 2018 MVC All-Tournament Team.
Jami will focus on training our Goalkeepers, scouting opponents, assist with fundraising, player development and other duties as assigned. Jami was also named to the 2019 Central Region Team, Heartland Conference, playing for FC Wichita.
"I am very thankful that Coach Erickson gave me this opportunity to help coach at UNI. I am excited to take on a new role in helping the Women's Soccer Team compete at a high level in the Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA" said Reichenberger.
2018: Named MVC Defense Player of the Week (Aug. 27)…..Named to the 2018 MVC All-Tournament team…..Started in all 19 games for the Panthers, recording 1,714 minutes in goal….Recorded 18 career shutouts for UNI to lead the category….Nabbed 7 shutouts this season….Had 119 saves, with 17 goals allowed
2017: Has played in 20 games, starting each game while seeing action in 1746 minutes for the Panthers this season. She has had 64 saves this season with a save percentage of 0.821% and a goalkeeper record of 14-5-1 with 11 shutouts. Her shutouts are a conference record, the previous record was 10. Reichenberger was named to the All-MVC Second Team.
Butler CC: All-Region, first- team all-city and second-team all-state selection sophomore year … first-team all-city, all-metro and all-state selection junior and senior year … finished third at state as a senior … started as a freshman at Butler Community College … .45 goals against average … set single-season team records in shutouts (18) … led the NJCAA in games played (24), wins (21), shutouts (18) and minutes played (2187:00) … earned All-KJCCC and All-Region VI second team honors as a freshman … placed third in the NJCAA National Tournament … KJCCC west and All Region VI first team honors as a sophomore.
High School: Played all four years for the Bishop Carroll Golden Eagles under head coach Greg Rauch… was an All-Region, first-team All-City and second-team All-State selection her sophomore year… was a first-team All-City, All-Metro and All-State selection in both her junior and senior years… helped Bishop Carroll take third at the 5A state tournament in 2015 as a senior... participated in the 2014 Butler All-Star Soccer Showcase and was named the MVP… also lettered two years in volleyball… played club for the KRW Cholita Strikers under head coach Jeff Carron.
Personal: Born May 17, 1997 ... daughter of Ron and Joni Reichenberger… has four siblings (sisters Jana, Jeni, Jaci and Jesi)… graduated from University of Northern Iowa with BA in Exercise Science.
James Price
Assistant Coach
James Price made his return to the UNI soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2023.
A longtime student and coach of the game, Price served as the head coach for UNI's women's program from 2009 to 2015, winning 40 matches in his seven seasons. During his first stint with the Panthers, he helped transform the program from a two-win team in 2009 into an MVC Tournament qualifier. UNI won eight matches in both 2012 and 2013, its most since 2003, and made four MVC Tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015), which included the program's first home conference tournament match in program history in 2012. Price coached 11 All-MVC selections, including two-time Second Team honorees Chelsie Hochstedler, Melissa Hagan and Sam Copley.
Price became the head coach at Division II Upper Iowa ahead of the 2016 season, leading the Peacocks to 28 wins in six seasons. In his time in Fayette, he coached six All-Northern Sun Conference performers, including Mackenzie Taldone, Brianne Fenton, Birgit Rijnders, Facie Grahm, Aimee Sies and Leah Willenbring.
Prior to his arrival at UNI, Price served as head coach at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virgina.During his tenure with the Flames, he led the team to three Big South Conference tournament titles, and a pair of conference regular-season crowns, in addition to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Price guided 39 all-conference athletes, with 20 of them earning first team all-conference nods. Two players were named Big South Players of the Year, along with three Big South Tournament MVP awards. Price was named Big South Coach of the Year in 1999, with the Flames finishing runner-up at the Big South Tournament.
Price was a also member of the NCAA Women’s Soccer National Committee from 2002-05, and served on the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee Chair from 2003-05.
Prior to his time at Liberty, Price served as an assistant coach at Randolph Macon Women’s College from 1996-97 and also as the director of coaching for the Lynchburg United Soccer Travel Club.
Price played collegiate soccer at Liberty from 1993-96 and later played with the USISL pro league team Roanoke Wrath from 1996-00. In his native country of England, Price played at the semi-pro level with the Chessington United from 1991-1993.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in sport management from Liberty in 1996. Price also holds an associate degree in exercise science from Farnborough College of Technology in England.