Recruiting feature: The quest for relevance at Upper Iowa

In college basketball you can tell a lot about a program by the atmosphere in a morning shootaround – by how the players interact, what kind of energy is in the gym, and the way the coaches convey their message. The vibe I felt on my recent visit to Upper Iowa University was very, very good. For a Division 2 program that is working to climb from the depths in the Northern Sun Conference that’s incredibly important as head coach Nate Oakland toils to make the Peacocks relevant. With their recent success in recruiting, and a major upset of St. Cloud State on opening night, I wanted to find out for myself what’s up in tiny Fayette, Iowa, population 1,441.

Since Oakland signed on last year for the monumental task of turning things around in Fayette, his team has won just four games. You would never know that by watching practice, hanging out with the team, and seeing the approach Oakland and his assistant coaches Justin Weiland and Alvin Nyangau are taking. They have already attracted some solid recruits, and a handful of top prospects from Minnesota are seriously considering signing on, as well. That’s a start.

“I think we still have a long ways to go,” Oakland said when we sat down to talk about the program’s past, present and future. “If you had told me that in year two we would be able to get a road win like we got at St. Cloud, that we could compete with some of the upper echelon teams in our league, I would have taken that… Year one was so much about trying to change people’s perceptions.”

That’s no small feat. Over the past decade, Upper Iowa has been the doormat of the NSIC as the program averaged only four wins per season. “We had to gain the respect of the administration, the professors, even the people around town,” Oakland said. “Everybody knew that women’s basketball at Upper Iowa was not where it needed to be.“

Why Upper Iowa?

When the result was posted online on opening night, most NSIC observers probably assumed it was a mistake, but there it was: Upper Iowa 75 St. Cloud State 71 in overtime. Freshman point guard Lydia Haack Lydia Haack 5'3" | PG Elk River | 2020 State MN had put up 30 points in her first collegiate game. The Elk River native, who played AAU ball for North Tartan Elite, went 9-for-16 from the field, 12-for-12 at the free throw line. That was a statement performance for the 5’3 Haack, who has set out to prove she belongs at this level. Haack is the starting point guard for the Peacocks and is averaging 16.9 points per game.

She isn’t the only Minnesotan making an impact. Her fellow freshman Alaina Brenning Alaina Brenning 5'9" | PG Rogers | 2020 State MN of Rogers and sophomores Katie Tornstrom Katie Tornstrom 5'9" | PG Caledonia | 2019 State MN of Caledonia and Lexie Lodermeier Lexie Lodermeier 6'2" | C Goodhue | 2019 State MN of Goodhue are in the Peacocks’ top six. Landing those four players has been a big boost for Oakland’s team, which has two more Minnesotans in senior Natalie Dinius of Canby and sophomore Sydney Brastad of Chanhassen. Commitments from current high school seniors Mia Huberty Mia Huberty 5'9" | CG Big Lake | 2021 State MN of Big Lake (#41 in the 2021 class) and Haley Paulson Haley Paulson 5'9" | CG Orono | 2021 State MN of Orono (#68) will improve the team, as well. The question I had is why those players would sign up for what will no doubt be an uphill climb.

Fayette isn’t exactly a quaint college town. There’s one motel, one place to grab a bite after the game, and nothing that would qualify as a college hangout. So why would Huberty, a solid D2 recruit with other offers, want to take a chance on Upper Iowa?

“I had talked to other D1 and D2 coaches and gone to elite camps, but Upper Iowa was my first actual visit so I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said of her excursion that came on a fall weekend when football and volleyball were playing at home. “They definitely set the bar high.”

Huberty got to experience the atmosphere and energy of Peacock athletics, spent time with the players and asked a lot of pointed questions. She did the college tailgate thing and hung out with other recruits. Mia’s parents talked with parents of current players, which helped them get answers to their questions. “Overall it was such a personal visit and unlike any other I had over my recruiting process,” she said. “I remember driving home that night and just thinking, ‘Wow! That felt like somewhere I want to be.’”

For Brenning it was Oakland’s sales pitch that made the difference. “I chose UIU because I believe in what Coach Oakland is building here,” she said. “He’s a very passionate and smart person who will do so much to take us all to the next level. I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”

On the weekend I visited I was surprised to run into current junior Audrey Swanson Audrey Swanson 5'11" | SF Waconia | 2022 State MN of Waconia, a top 40 prospect who is one of the most athletic players in the 2022 class. I listened as Oakland greeted Audrey and her family for the first time. It took the coach approximately 30 seconds to address the elephant in the room.

“Does it feel like you are in the middle of nowhere?” said Oakland, who grew up in the area and is thrilled that his five kids are now closer to their grandparents. ”We know this place isn’t for everyone but spend the day here, have a look around and see what you think. We think we have a lot to offer but it’s not for everyone.” By the time the Swanson family departed for home there was no doubt they were impressed.

Oakland figures it’s best to be 100 percent honest from the get-go. “To me, we’ve got to be who we are. You can’t hide behind that,” he said. “You can fake it up to a certain point but then they are going to come on campus and take a look around and they’re going to go, ‘This is not what we were told.’ I think in this day and age, especially with social media, we’ve got to be who we are and celebrate that. I tell all of our recruits, if this isn’t for you we don’t want you.”

That message made an impact on Huberty. “I had my doubts at first, too, but after visiting and talking to the coaches those got washed away,” she said, citing the small-town environment as a plus. “Everybody knows each other and looks out for each other, and in Fayette the town backs the college sports teams fully which I got to see at the football and volleyball game. I just felt comfortable there.”

Academic opportunities

When it comes to choosing a college, academics are obviously important. Upper Iowa attracts high-end students who are drawn by the unique opportunities offered at the private school. Although there are only 900 students on the Fayette campus, the university offers education programs at 15 centers across the country and was one of the first schools to dive head-first into online education more than 20 years ago. It now has over 6,000 students worldwide. Upper Iowa offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in more than 40 majors, and operates on an unusual calendar with two eight-week terms per semester. The average class size is 12.

“On our team we have a very wide spectrum of majors, whether it’s education, pre-med, biology. We have one that wants to go to dental school, others in communications and marketing,” said Oakland, who graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in nearby Cedar Falls. “At Upper Iowa you are going to get opportunities both academically and athletically. We’re going to push you. We’re going to challenge you. We’re going to get the most out of you. But you are also going to create relationships that will help you get to where you want to go.”

It’s all about recruiting

Recruiting means everything in college basketball. That’s no secret. If you don’t have the talent you aren’t going to win. Let’s face it, over the past decade Upper Iowa has only been able to land the leftover D2 candidates and players who really belonged at a lower level. If Oakland is going to be successful, he knows that has to change. Recruiting in Minnesota is a big part of the strategy.

“All of us are aware of the talent in the state, especially in the greater Twin Cities region,” he said. “You take that and the Des Moines area where the talent is also huge and it’s a great opportunity. The biggest thing for us as we build is we needed to identify people that had higher character, that had a blue collar work ethic. In this place, in this program, ultimately you’ve got to have a chip on your shoulder. You have to be willing to prove people wrong.”

One of the most appealing aspects for recruits is the fact that the opportunity is now. Quality players who sign on the dotted line are going to play immediately, and the success of the program will be built around them. That’s attractive for athletes who are used to being the big dog.

The unique circumstances of 2021 will also play a major factor in what type of players Oakland and company can land this year. With the NCAA having granted college seniors an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, there is a lot of uncertainty for the class of 2022. The reality is that many players who would have earned a Division 1 opportunity will now drop to the D2 level. Swanson is a player who could fall into that category.

Oakland feels his program is equipped to compete for better players. The facilities are solid. The dormitories are exceptional. The financial support is there from the administration and alumni. Upper Iowa has been highly successful in wrestling, volleyball and men’s basketball, and Oakland believes that can be replicated in women’s basketball. They just need more talent.

Nyangau, Weiland and Oakland are beating the bushes to improve their roster, but they aren’t going to sell snake oil to get the job done. “I’m going to be up front. I’m going to be honest. I’m going to tell you the truth,” Oakland said. “Some people don’t like that but we’re not going to apologize for it. If you’re good with that then this may be the place for you.”

Brenning, who is just a few months into her collegiate career, is happy in Fayette. “I’m still trying to find my flow on the court and make the transition from high school to college basketball,” she said. “So far, I feel like UIU has provided an environment that has allowed me to grow on and off the court. Honestly it’s not really what I expected. It has surpassed the expectations I had set prior to coming here. The energy and passion that the coaches bring every day is inspiring and motivating.”

Huberty agrees. “I can’t wait to get down there and continue to work to get better with my teammates,” she said. “I trust the coaching staff 100 percent to continue to push the team and help them get better. It’s a work in progress but I’m so eager to be a piece of the puzzle.”

Top photo: Freshman guard Lydia Haack Lydia Haack 5'3" | PG Elk River | 2020 State MN of Elk River is pivotal to Upper Iowa’s improvement. (Photo by Kylie Macziewski courtesy of Upper Iowa University Athletics)