Vice President for Athletics
Rick Hartzell announced today that Head Basketball Coach
Brooks McKowen has resigned from his position at Upper Iowa to take on a new role as the head coach of the Missouri Western basketball program. McKowen departs Upper Iowa as the all-time wins leader, accumulating 209 victories in his 12-season tenure.
"I'm so happy for Brooks and his family as they embark on this new chapter at Missouri Western," said Hartzell. "I've known Brooks since he was 16, and it's been incredible to watch him grow, from his time playing at UNI to his work as a coach at Upper Iowa. He's accomplished a lot, and while we are sad to see him go, this is an exciting opportunity for his continued growth as a coach, husband, and father. We'll focus on finding the right head coach to continue the success Brooks has helped build. We are poised to take this program to the next level of excellence, and we have Brooks and his past and current players to thank for that."
Under McKowen's tutelage, the Peacock men's basketball program made three NCAA Tournament appearances and competed in eight conference tournaments (NSIC/GLVC) while producing three All-Americans, nine first-team all-conference selections, and three conference Players of the Year.
In 2016-17, Upper Iowa reached the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Championship Game for the first time and reached the NCAA Tournament for just the second time at the DII level.
McKowen later led UIU to a program-best 26-6 (18-4 NSIC) record during the 2021-22 campaign. The Peacocks received an at-large bid to the NCAA DII Central Region Championships, where they defeated the nationally ranked University of Central Oklahoma 91-74.
The 2022-23 season saw Upper Iowa claim a share of the NSIC South Division title for the first time in program history. McKowen's coaching efforts helped propel
Jake Hilmer to become the first UIU men's basketball player to be named NSIC South Player of the Year, while
Lucas Duax was named NSIC South Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career.
In his two seasons in the GLVC, McKowen posted a 29-11 in-league record and coached back-to-back GLVC Players of the Year in
Jake Hilmer and
Nick Reid. His teams reached the GLVC tournament semifinals in both seasons and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24, where the team secured a win over #2-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan.
"I want to express my sincere appreciation to Upper Iowa, the athletic department, and to all the players I had the privilege to coach," said McKowen. "This is a special place to my family and me, and it was an honor to be a part of this community for the last twelve years. We are excited for what the future holds for us and this team."
A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
