Terry Allen named Bears' head football coach

Terry Allen, who cut his coaching teeth and enjoyed his great­ Allen's Iowa roots run deep. His father, Robert Allen, was a foo t­ est coaching success in the Gateway Football Conference, returns ball player and a national champion swimmer at the University of to the nation's most potent Division I-AA league as the new head Iowa. The elder Allen served as an assistant football coach at Iowa coach of the M issouri State University Bears. Allen's appointment and was men's swim head coach fo r 16 years. was announced Dec. 20 and he began his new duties Jan. 2. Allen Allen and his wife, Lynn, have three children: Angela, Chase and has been given a five-year contract at Missouri State. Alex. Allen, who followed more than 20 years of success as a player To learn more about Allen's coaching history, log on to and coach at the University of Northern Iowa with five seasons as www. missouristatebears. com. head coach at the University of Kansas, comes to Missouri State after four seasons as associate head coach, tight ends coach and spe­ cial teams coordinator at Iowa State University. Allen becomes the 19th head coach in the 95-year history of Missouri State football and he succeeds whose contract was nor renewed fol­ lowing the 2005 season. "Terry Allen is a perfect fit for Missouri State football," com­ mented Bill Rowe, director of athletics. "He enjoyed huge success in our league when he was at Northern Iowa and we're excited about asking him to guide our program." ''I'm thrilled about the opportunity to become coach of the Missouri State Bears," said Allen. "I developed a great amount of respect and admiration for this program and this University when I was at Northern Iowa. The potential in this program, this school and this community is awesome. Lynn and I have visited this com­ m unity and have long thought this would be a great place to live and raise a family. We are excited about moving here." T he tradition-rich Northern Iowa grid program has won games at over a 60 percent rate for more than 100 years and Allen's eight Dr. Michael T. Nietzel, Missouri State president. announces the appointment years as the Panthers' head coach from 1989-96 have him among of Terry Allen as Bears football head coach during a Dec. 20 press the all-rime leaders even by the lofty standards the Panther program conference. Allen , along with his wife, Lynn, are looking forward to the has had. Working along the same coaching lines as legendary men­ head coaching post at Missouri State and moving their family to Springfield. tors and Darrell Mudra, Allen has the highest winning percentage of any UNI coach who's guided the Panthers for more Photo by Kevin White than one season. Board approves elimination of five sports

Five of Missouri Stare's 21 sporrs will be eliminated as of June 30. The In his Dec. 16 presentation to the Board of Governors, N ietzel reiterated sporrs ro be eliminated are men's indoor track, men's outdoor rrack, men's the major goal: balance. cross country, men's tennis and women's tennis. The budger-relared move "What we are rrying to achieve is the proper balance- in the number of is hoped ro eventually save the University between $350,000-$500,000 sports, in funding, in facilities, in opportunities and success for students, annually and also reduce rhe size of future increases in scholarships and and in our academic programs and research initiatives, which are our first other expenses. priorities. I am convinced that we have to make some changes to achieve T he recommendation ro el iminate five sporrs came from President rhar balance. The University has had these discussions on and off for Michael T. Nietzel based on a report from the Intercoll egiate Athletics several years, and it's now rime to rake action. In addition, these decisions Priorities Commirree. The Commirree, formed in August by Nietzel, will sharpen the focus of our athletics program and hopefully allow us to provided the president with three scenarios for reducing the size of the do a better job with the sports we are continuing." University's athletics program. All reams will complete their seasons Missouri State has 21 sports, which is the most in the Missouri Valley this year and all srudenr-athleres in the five programs will retain their Conference; other MVC schools range from 14 to 19 sports. Missouri State scholarships for their years of eligibi lity. also has more sports than schools such as the University of Oklahoma, "We are making the decision ar this time so that student-athletes have the University of Kansas, the University of Arkansas, the University of rime ro consider rheir futures," said Nietzel. "If they wish ro compere ar Missouri, Texas A&M Univers ity and Iowa State Univers ity. another institution, we will ass ist in that transition. If they wish to remain To read more abour rhe Board's decision visit: www.news.missouristate. ar Missouri State ro receive an education while still on scholarship, we edulnewslreleasesldec05/fivesports.htm. A copy of the Intercollegiate Arhlerics welcome them. Obviously, I hope many of rhe student-athletes choose to Priorities Committee report is avai lable online ar www.missouristate.edu/ continue ar Missouri Stare." presidentlcommitteslialjinalreport. htm