Northern Colorado Bears basketball
Northern Colorado Bears basketball history
University of Northern Colorado (Greeley, CO)
Bank of Colorado Arena at Butler-Hancock Athletic Center
Big Sky Conference
Current head coach: Steve Smiley (2020-)
- Asst. HC/Scouting: Dorian Green (2019-)
- Asst. HC/Recruiting: Houston Reed (2020-)
- Asst: Brett Cloepfil (2020-)
- Asst/DBO: Colin Gause (2022-)
- Asst/DPD: Dondrale Campbell (2023-)
Post-Season:
- National Championships: 0
- Final Four Appearances: 0
- Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 1 (2011)
- NCAAT Overall Record: 0-1
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 0
- NIT Overall Record: 0-0
- CBI Appearances: 2 (2022, 2024)
- CBI Overall Record: 2-2
- CIT Championships: 1 (2018)
- CIT Appearances: 3 (2010, 2014, 2018)
- CIT Overall Record: 5-2
- NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances: 4 (1964, 1965, 1966, 1989)
- NCAA Division II Tournament Overall Record: 1-6
Conference Titles (RMAC, NCC, Big Sky):
- Big Sky Regular Season Championships: 1 (2011)
- RMAC Regular Season Championships: 11 (1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1955, 1961, 1967, 1968)
- Big Sky Tournament Championships: 1 (2011)
Award Winners:
- Naismith Player of the Year: 0
- John R. Wooden Award: 0
- Oscar Robertson Trophy: 0
- AP All-Americans: 0
- Big Sky Player of the Year: 2 (last = Jordan Davis, 2019)
Northern Colorado head coaches:
| Coach | Tenure | Record | Conf. Titles | NCAA Apps. | Nat. Champ |
| Steve Smiley | 2020-Pres | 64-61 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Linder | 2016-20 | 80-50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B.J. Hill ** | 2010-16 | 10-21 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tad Boyle | 2006-10 | 56-66 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Craig Rasmuson | 1999-2006 | 63-129 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Smith | 1992-99 | 78-111 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Brillhart | 1983-92 | 121-132 | 0 | 1^ | 0 |
| Thurman Wright | 1968-83 | 156-126 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Sage | 1963-68 | 95-36 | 2 | 3^ | 0 |
| John W. Bunn | 1956-63 | 73-94 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Butler | 1940-43, 45-56 | 151-133 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| John W. Hancock | 1943-45 | 1-25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jules Doubenmier | 1937-40 | 33-24 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| John Davis | 1931-37 | 71-53 | – | – | – |
| George E. Cooper | 1922-31 | 87-47 | – | – | – |
| William E. Search | 1919-22 | 11-13 | – | – | – |
| Ralph Glaze | 1917-19 | 8-13 | – | – | – |
| Paul Abbott | 1916-17 | 5-7 | – | – | – |
| Royce Long | 1914-16 | 3-5 | – | – | – |
| unknown | 1901-14 | 11-15 | – | – | – |
Key: Conf. Titles= Regular Season only, NCAA Apps= NCAA Tournament Appearances, Nat. Champ= NCAA Tournament Champions
^ These tournament appearances came when the Northern Colorado program was at the Division II level; Northern Colorado moved up to Division I prior to the 2004-05 season, but also spent time at the top-level in the 1930s and 1940s
** Listed records and accomplishments do not include wins or appearances later vacated by the NCAA.
