Brooks McKowen enters his second season as the head men's basketball coach at MoWest in 2026-27. In his first 13 years as a head coach, McKowen has amassed a career record of 230-160 (.589).
Hired at MoWest in March 2025 after 12 successful seasons at Upper Iowa University, McKowen brought his winning ways to St. Joseph, leading Griffon men's basketball to a 21-12 record in 2025-26 - the first 20-win season for the program in 23 years.
McKowen led MoWest back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2021. His first Griffon team scored 2,688 points - the second most in a single season in program history. MoWest led the MIAA in 2025-26 in fewest turnovers per game (10.2) and most made free throws (544).
McKowen also helped Noah King reach second team all-MIAA status, while Ty Henry was a third team all-MIAA pick.
In his 12 years at Upper Iowa, McKowen amassed a 209-148 career record and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Upper Iowa competed for 10 years in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference before moving to the Great Lakes Valley Conference in 2023-24.
McKowen's Upper Iowa teams won at least 21 games in three of his last four seasons there, including a 21-9 mark in 2024-25, a 22-10 record in 23-24 and a program best 26-6 season in 2021-22. The Peacocks had winning seasons in 10 of McKowen's 12 seasons there. Known for their trademark fast-paced brand, the Peacocks averaged at least 80 points per game in each of McKowen's 12 seasons at UIU.
Prior to UIU, McKowen spent two seasons as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minnesota.
A 2007 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, and a Fairbank, Iowa native, McKowen was a four-year letter winner at point guard at UNI, ranking second all-time in assists and fourth all time in minutes played. Playing for head coaches Greg McDermott and Ben Jacobson, McKowen helped lead the Panthers to three 20-plus win seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Following graduation, McKowen spent three seasons (2007-10) on the coaching staff at UNI, while earning his master's degree in physical education and coaching.
McKowen also holds the Iowa state high school record for both points in a single season (1,002 in 2003) and career scoring (2,831 from 2000-03).
Brooks and his wife, Amanda, have four sons - Kahler (9), Banks (7), Kelik (5) and Lanik (3).
The McKowen File
Year School Overall Conference Postseason
2013–14 Upper Iowa 16–14 13–9
2014–15 Upper Iowa 17–13 12–10
2015–16 Upper Iowa 16–17 11–11
2016–17 Upper Iowa 22–11 16–6 NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament qualifier
2017–18 Upper Iowa 17–15 10–12
2018–19 Upper Iowa 7–22 4–18
2019–20 Upper Iowa 19–11 15–7
2020–21 Upper Iowa 10–7 8–4
2021–22 Upper Iowa 26–6 18–4 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional semifinals
2022–23 Upper Iowa 16–13 13–9
2023–24 Upper Iowa 22–10 15–5 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional semifinals
2024–25 Upper Iowa 21–9 14–6
2025-26 MWSU 21-12 12-7 NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament qualifier
Career: 230–160 overall (.589), 160–107 conference (.599)
