CEDAR FALLS - The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball coaching staff will soon have a significant leg up when it comes to in-state recruiting.

Adam DeJoode, the Panthers' newest assistant coach, will see to that.

"I have a good feel for the talent in the state of Iowa. … And my job is to come in and work my tail off," said DeJoode, a Cedar Falls native and 1996 NU High grad who recently resigned from his job as head girls' basketball coach at Southeast Polk High School in rural Des Moines.

"This is really a dream, to be able to work at a school like UNI - a school where I believe in that roster as much as I do, and it's in your hometown," added the 32-year-old. "I'm really appreciative of (Panther head coach Tanya Warren) extending this opportunity to me."

DeJoode replaces Nate Oakland, who recently resigned from his post at UNI to complete his masters' degree.

"Adam has a bright future at the collegiate level," said Warren. "He is a basketball junkie who is well-respected in Iowa and the Midwest. He will bring a tremendous amount of passion and energy to our team."

DeJoode had served as a head coach in the prep ranks since 2001, a run that included a 23-4 state runner-up campaign at Charles City in 2004. His Comet clubs set 43 of the 50 records in Charles City annals from 2001-06.

In addition, DeJoode recently served as president of the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association and, while working as the IBCA Iowa Select Team coordinator, he coached more than 30 eventual Division I players. His IBCA teams finished with a five-year record of 137-27.

DeJoode coached "a handful" of current UNI players during his time with the IBCA, including Erin Brocka, Indy Uhlenhopp and Nicole Clausen, and he coached Danielle Wubbens at Charles City.

Now, he possesses rare knowledge of the state's recruiting landscape.

"I won't need a map with me in my car when I go recruiting in Iowa, let's just put it that way," DeJoode joked.