Danker named NSIC Coach of the Year
Longtime Peacock coach receives well-deserved honor
FAYETTE, Iowa (May 13, 2008) -- Head Baseball Coach Mark Danker has been selected by his peers as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Coach of the Year. The Peacocks finished the regular season in second place behind Wayne State, tied in the win column but incurring two more losses than the Wildcats. 
Danker is in his 9th season as Head Baseball Coach and 18th season as part of the baseball program at Upper Iowa. The Marengo, Iowa native spent the first ten years at UIU as the assistant coach under Rick Heller, the current Head Baseball Coach for the University of Northern Iowa.
Under Danker, the baseball team has posted a 212-203-2 record, including the three-year transition from the NCAA Division III Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to NSIC Division II. While Danker has been a part of the baseball program at Upper Iowa, the team's record is 460-330.
The team smoothly transitioned to the Division II level, posting winning records in each of the three seasons of active membership; 26-24 in 2006, 29-21 in 2007, and 30-25 currently. The 2008 Peacocks are currently ranked 6th in the Central Region for the second straight week. The 2007 team was ranked as high as 5th in the Central Region in early May.
Danker's underlying philosophy and foundation for the Upper Iowa Baseball program is to "respect the game." Danker and his assistant Kevin Post stress the importance of "preparing to succeed" in all aspects of their players' lives, as well as passing on their enthusiasm for baseball and its lifelong enjoyment.
The Peacock baseball coach has become the fourth Upper Iowa head coach to be named the NSIC Coach of the Year in the 2007-08 seasons. He joins Heath Grimm (wrestling), Chad Markuson (women's golf), and Chad Fenwick (women's tennis).