UMD Athletics

Kari Niemann joined the Bulldog coaching staff in the 2018-19 season as an assistant coach focusing on pole vault.

One of the many alums on the coaching staff, Niemann graduated from UMD in 2014 with a B.A. in Social Studies Education as well as a B.A. in Spanish. During her time at as an athlete, Kari was a four-year letter winner, an All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference athlete, and a qualifier for the NCAA II National Championships in the pole vault. Niemann, a North Dakota High School State C Champion in 2008, also broke school records in the indoor and outdoor pole vault. During her fifth year at UMD, Kari was a volunteer assistant coach for the pole vault and helped guide former UMD teammates to another school record in the women’s pole vault as well as securing one First-Team All-American selection under her guidance.

After graduation, Niemann coached in Denver, Colorado for three seasons as the sprints and jumps coach for Prospect Ridge High sSchool where she helped guide the Miners to multiple school records in various events over her three years. While coaching in Denver, Kari continued to compete post-collegiately and train for the pole vault with Above the Bar T.C. out of Boulder, Coloardo. Niemann turned in a 2nd place finish at the Colorado USATF Indoor Championships and multiple top 5 finishes at NCAA I/II college level meets.

Kari currently works at Hermantown Middle School and resides with her husband (and fellow UMD coach) Ben in Duluth.