Northern Iowa Names Kyle Green as New Head Basketball Coach

Green returns to Panthers after five years as assistant at Iowa State

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:57pm

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The University of Northern Iowa has named Kyle Green as its new head men's basketball coach, replacing longtime coach Ben Jacobsen who departed for Utah State. Green, who has had three previous stints as an assistant at UNI, agreed to a five-year contract to lead the Panthers program.

Why it matters

UNI has enjoyed tremendous stability in its basketball and football programs for decades, with Ben Jacobsen and Mark Farley leading the teams for 15+ years each. Green's hiring represents a changing of the guard as the school looks to continue its winning tradition under new leadership.

The details

Green, whose college coaching career spans over 30 years across multiple NCAA divisions, was an assistant at UNI under Greg McDermott from 2001-2003 and 2006-2011, and then again under Jacobsen from 2012-2021. He was also the head coach at Division III Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2011-12. During his time as a UNI assistant, the team won four Missouri Valley Conference tournaments and three regular-season championships, including a Sweet 16 run in 2010 that included upset wins over UNLV and top-seeded Kansas.

  • Ben Jacobsen announced his departure for Utah State just last week.
  • UNI announced Kyle Green as the new head coach on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The players

Kyle Green

The new head men's basketball coach at the University of Northern Iowa, who has over 30 years of college coaching experience including three previous stints as an assistant at UNI.

Ben Jacobsen

The longtime former head coach of the UNI men's basketball team, who recently departed to take the head coaching job at Utah State.

Greg McDermott

A former head coach of the UNI men's basketball team, who Green served as an assistant under from 2001-2003 and 2006-2011.

Megan Franklin

The athletic director at the University of Northern Iowa who announced Green's hiring as the new head men's basketball coach.

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What they’re saying

“This is more than just a school or job to me and my family. It is a home. A place that has given so much more to our family than we could ever give back. A school with unparalleled history in men's basketball. A tradition built by hall of fame coaches in Eldon Miller, Greg McDermott and Ben Jacobson. Coaches who I am fortunate to say are also mentors of mine. I don't take the honor of carrying the torch forward lightly and cannot wait to get started.”

— Kyle Green, New Head Men's Basketball Coach, University of Northern Iowa

What’s next

Green will begin assembling his coaching staff and preparing for the upcoming season as he takes over the UNI men's basketball program.

The takeaway

The hiring of Kyle Green as the new head coach of the UNI men's basketball team represents a changing of the guard for the program, as the school looks to build on its recent success and winning tradition under new leadership.