(Cedar Falls, IA) —The University of Northern Iowa has named Kyle Green as its next head men’s basketball coach, university officials announced Wednesday.
Green becomes the 26th head coach in program history and has agreed to a five-year contract, according to UNI Director of Athletics Megan Franklin. A formal introduction will take place at a press conference at a later date.
Green replaces long time Head Coach Ben Jacobson who is the winningest coach in Panther history but left this week to take the job at Utah St. This past season, UNI went 23-13, won the Missouri Valley tournament and lost to St. John’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Green returns to Cedar Falls after spending the past five seasons as an assistant coach at Iowa State University under T.J. Otzelberger. During his tenure, the Cyclones reached the NCAA Tournament each year, compiling 124 wins, two Sweet Sixteen appearances and a Big 12 Tournament championship.
Prior to his time in Ames, Green spent 16 seasons as an assistant coach at UNI across three stints, including four years as associate head coach under Jacobson. He also worked under Greg McDermott during his time with the Panthers.
Green played a key role in one of the most successful eras in program history, helping UNI to four Missouri Valley Conference tournament titles and three regular-season championships. The Panthers also made four NCAA Tournament appearances during that stretch, highlighted by a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2010 that included an upset of top-ranked Kansas.
“I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to become the next head coach at UNI,” Green said in a statement. “This is more than just a job — it’s home.”
Green brings more than 30 years of coaching experience, including previous head coaching stops at Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Lewis University and Western Colorado. He also served as an assistant coach at Marquette during the 2003-04 season.
A Minneapolis native, Green was a four-year letterwinner at Hamline University and began his coaching career overseas in Denmark before returning to the college ranks.
He and his wife, Michele, have two children. His son, AJ, was a two-time MVC Player of the Year at UNI and later played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
GREEN’S COACHING CAREER
2026 University of Northern Iowa (Head Coach)
2021-26 Iowa State University (Assistant Coach)
2017-21 University of Northern Iowa (Associate Head Coach)
2012-17 University of Northern Iowa (Assistant Coach)
2011-12 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (Head Coach)
2006-11 University of Northern Iowa (Assistant Coach)
2004-06 Lewis University (Head Coach)
2003-04 Marquette University (Assistant Coach)
2001-03 University of Northern Iowa (Assistant Coach)
2000-01 Western Colorado (Head Coach)
1997-00 Augustana College [S.D.] (Assistant Coach)
1995-97 Southwest Minnesota State (Assistant Coach)
1993-95 Hamline University (Assistant Coach)
1992-93 Frederica Basketball Club [Denmark] (Player/Coach)
UNI HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES
1899 S.R. Satterwaite
1900-01 Enola P. Pierce
1901-02 George B. Affleck
1902-03 Thomas Jones
1903-06 Charles Pell
1906-09 R.F. Seymour
1909-11 Clayton Simmons
1911-13 H. Pisini
1913-17 Allen Berkstresser
1917-18 J.O. Perrine
1918-19 Russell Glaesner
1919-21 Ivan Doseff
1921-24 L.L. Mendenhall
1924-32, 1934-37 Arthur D. Dickinson
1932-33 Melvin Fritzel
1937-43, 1946-54 O.M. Nordly
1944-45 NO BASKETBALL (World War II)
1954-56 Stanley Hall
1956-61 James Witham
1961-67 Norm Stewart
1967-73 Zeke Hogeland
1973-86 James Berry
1986-98 Eldon Miller
1998-01 Sam Weaver
2001-06 Greg McDermott
2006-26 Ben Jacobson
2026 Kyle Green
