Northeast Iowa Community College Expands Athletics with Programming, New Mascot

Northeast Iowa Community College's (NICC) Board of Trustees approved five new sports teams to expand the NICC athletics program on Aug. 19. NICC is building its athletic capacity to include baseball, softball, men's and women's cross country and dance, in addition to the college's growing sports shooting and esports teams. As a college, NICC is dedicated to providing students with the best possible education, college experience and supportive community. Historically, NICC has been focused primarily on academics and training, but what our students want has changed. They want to experience a diverse and inclusive community culture filled with student events, clubs and sports. The expansion of the athletics department is adding to the students' overall experience. NICC Interim President David Dahms said, "We have strong programs and exceptional faculty, and we pride ourselves on the high level of education and training we provide. A part of our mission is innovation and advancing community vitality, including our college community. Students want a richer student experience outside the classroom - athletic expansion will do just that, whether you're a fan or athlete, and adding more sports to our athletics is building college experiences outside of the classroom for our students. By offering athletics, we are able to provide students with an exciting college experience that encourages their personal growth." A feasibility study explored the college's ability to expand and sustain additional athletic programs. The study revealed that students want to attend a college with spirit on and off campus, and not all student-athletes are ready for a four-year college. This is where NICC steps in. By growing athletics, NICC has more opportunities to attract students from outside our district and bring new students to our northeast Iowa community. The college took the first step in growing student athletic opportunities and hired Athletic Director Nick Weinmeister last spring. Since joining NICC, Weinmeister has researched cost, facilities, and equipment, among other considerations, to create an extensive and methodical plan for expanding NICC athletics. "Not only are we adding more sports to the athletics department, we're enhancing and growing our current sports shooting and esports teams," Weinmeister stated. "When adding new athletic programs, I wanted to find programs that would best fit the needs of the students and encourage potential students who might consider NICC because of athletic opportunities. Right now I'm working with coaches and community colleges in the northeast Iowa region and the surrounding states. I want to ensure we have the community's support. It's an exciting time at NICC. We are expanding athletics and have also introduced our new mascot, Chase the Cougar." Weinmeister has also been collaborating with Wes Schulte from College Suites on athlete housing so students can be next door to campus. Through these new efforts, beyond attending class, student-athletes have an opportunity to represent their college and build meaningful experiences, friendships and relationships through competitive intercollegiate athletics. The potential number of student participants was an important consideration when determining which sports to add. Adding sports that could accommodate larger rosters to benefit more students was favorable. Baseball and softball can have rosters with 20 or more students at the Peosta campus. Cross country, available at both campuses, typically has anywhere from 12 to 20 students, while dance, also available at both campuses, typically has 8 to 20 students. The new athletic programs will start competing in August 2025. Visit nicc.edu/athletics Don't miss out on important updates! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and stay informed about local topics that matter most to you.