Bobbi Petersen

Record at UNI: 635-223

When thinking about the tradition-filled history of UNI volleyball, few names jump out like Bobbi Petersen’s.  A former standout on the court for UNI - and arguably the greatest player in the school’s history - she has continued her connection with the Purple and Old Gold as both an assistant coach and as the head coach.  Under her guidance, she has taken UNI volleyball from its usual standard of excellence to a tier among the nation’s elite programs.

Petersen completed her 26th season as the Panther head coach in 2025. Petersen has posted an impressive 635-223 record at the helm of the UNI program. Petersen has guided UNI to 19 NCAA Tournament appearances. She has tallied 13 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season titles, 13 MVC Tournament crowns and two NCAA “Sweet Sixteen” appearances to her credit. Petersen has been named MVC Coach of the Year a record ten times (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). Petersen has also earned AVCA All-Region Coach of the Year honors five times (2001, 2002, 2018, 2019, 2025) and took home the AVCA National Coach of the Year award in 2002. Her Panther teams have won 20 or more matches in 22 of her 26 years as head coach.

The Panthers posted an undefeated MVC record in 2025 for a third straight season, capturing their fourth straight conference regular season and tournament championship. Cassidy Hartman was named the MVC's Player of the Year with First Team All-MVC honors, with Lily Dykstra and Maryn Bixby also earning first team all-conference recognition. Lindsay Oldendorf and Jadyn Petersen were named Second Team All-MVC, while Bixby, Petersen and Isabelle Elliott all earned spots on the MVC All-Freshman Team. Coach Petersen also extended her own record with her tenth MVC Coach of the Year honor and fifth AVCA Regional Coach of the Year award. Northern Iowa rattled off 22 consecutive wins during the 2025 campaign and extended its regular season conference winning streak to 52 matches, as well as 60 in a row overall against MVC opponents. UNI rallied for a reverse sweep win over Utah in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to No. 11 Creighton in four sets in Omaha.

During her tenure as head coach, Petersen has coached 72 individuals earn First Team All-MVC honors including 16 conference Player of the Year winners.  She has also placed 26 people on the league’s All-Freshman Teams. In addition, she has helped 39 individuals earn AVCA All-Region honors, and 17 Panthers have been named AVCA All-Americans.

Academically, the Panthers have shined under Petersen’s guidance as well. A total of 48 people have earned First Team MVC Scholar-Athlete honors during her time at the helm with 13 women earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-America honors. In 2013, UNI was the only NCAA Division I school to have two players earn Academic All-America honors as Shelby Kintzel was named to the First Team, and Macy Ubben was named to the Second Team.

Petersen and her husband, Duane, reside in Dike. They have two sets of twin daughters, Baylee and Sydney, and Jadyn and Payton. Both Baylee and Sydney played for the Panthers, with Sydney joining the UNI roster in 2022 after four seasons as a libero at the University of Texas. Jadyn is in her freshman season playing for UNI in 2024, while Payton is playing collegiately at the University of Louisville.