Throughout every step of her life, Allison Pohlman was a Northern Iowa Panther.
 
She grew up 30 minutes from Cedar Falls in Wellsburg, Iowa, and starred as a player while donning the purple and gold, began her coaching career and worked her way up the coaching rungs with the Panthers. Pohlman holds two degrees from UNI, and she was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2011.
 
So how does Pohlman end up as the associate head coach for UNI's fiercest rival?
           
"I had a very, very deep level of respect for Drake University," said Pohlman. "That's what ultimately drew me here because I knew that there was a foundation, a tradition and a history, and that's fantastic."
 
Pohlman enjoyed a decorated career at UNI. She made the MVC All-Freshman team in 1997 and was named to the league's first-team in each of the three following seasons.  
 
Pohlman's senior year in 2000 ranks among the finest in Valley history. She led UNI in steals and assists while setting school records for points and rebounds in a season. Pohlman collected the MVC Defensive Player of the Year award and finished second to former Missouri State standout Jackie Stiles in the MVC Player of the Year voting.
 
She graduated with a degree in dietetics and turned down professional basketball opportunities to pursue a master's degree in health education.
 
"I wanted to become a registered dietician, and upon graduation, that was my sole focus," said Pohlman. "I also wanted to find a school where I could be involved with the basketball team."
 
Pohlman found that opportunity at a familiar place: UNI. She joined the women's basketball staff as a graduate assistant in 2001.
 
"I had zero aspirations to be a college coach, but an opportunity presented itself," said Pohlman.
 
She capitalized on the chance and performed well enough to be named an assistant coach in 2002. In 2006, Pohlman earned a promotion to associate head coach.
 
The next year, Pohlman decided to join the staff at Drake as an assistant coach. Her choice to become part of a rival team – and take a step backward in title while doing so – speaks to the confidence and belief she had in Drake University.
 
"There's a lot of history here. Every time you walk into the Knapp Center, there are banners in the rafters," said Pohlman. "I also know what it felt like even playing in Cedar Falls when Drake would bring vans and buses of people to come to watch them on the road. I appreciate that really rich tradition and how well this place is supported. When you look at Drake University, you're like, 'Wow, their women's basketball program is good.'"
 
When current head coach Jennie Baranczyk ushered in a new era of Drake women's basketball in 2012, her first move was to retain Pohlman. Two years later, Baranczyk promoted Pohlman to associate head coach.
 
"I think our relationship is what drives the two of us to want to be better every single day," said Pohlman. "We're very different, but we also are both extremely competitive and we both want to do whatever is humanly possible to make Drake the best possible place it can be."
 
Pohlman's responsibilities exemplify the trust between Baranczyk and Pohlman. She prepares scouting reports, drives player development and serves as the program's academic liaison. Pohlman embraces her busy schedule, saying she loves her job and the people she works alongside.
 
"I've been so lucky to be surrounded by a bunch of great people," said Pohlman. "To be around these women at such a critical time when they're shaping their own lives, that continues to draw me to loving this job. It's really special."
 
In addition to her other duties, Pohlman is primarily responsible for recruiting. She adds another layer of irony to her story by describing herself as "completely oblivious to the process" during her recruitment in high school. Even so, Pohlman has a knack for identifying and attracting talented student-athletes.
 
"Drake sells itself. This is a basketball school," said Pohlman. "For the very same reasons that I'm here, the tradition and the success that we've had, this is a unique place. As far as our support, whether from an academic or administrative or fan support standpoint, it's pretty appealing to want to play here. I remember from my days as a student-athlete at UNI that the Knapp Center is a feared place to play because you know people are going to be in the stands cheering against you. I think our fan support is a really special thing."
 
After once competing in the Valley against the great Jackie Stiles, Pohlman is now recruiting Stiles' contemporary equivalents, and her pitches are working.
 
In the last seven years, three Bulldogs – Kyndal Clark (2014), Lizzy Wendell (2017) and Becca Hittner (2018, 2019, 2020) – have earned the Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year award. In addition, four Bulldogs – Hittner, Maddy Dean, Sara Rhine and Wendell – during that span have each been named the MVC Freshman of the Year.
 
Perhaps recruits can sense Pohlman's authenticity. After all, the reasons for Pohlman joining Drake from UNI are "100 percent" the same reasons she now sells to prospective student-athletes.
 
"I just think this program is special, and I believe in Drake," said Pohlman. "I think this place is unique and special. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to be here."
 
With Pohlman a part of the lifeblood of the program, the Bulldogs won three-straight MVC titles and posted a dominant 53-1 record in regular-season conference games from 2017-2019. This year before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Drake was projected to make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight season, which would have been a first for the program.
 
Maybe Drake should feel lucky, too