Northern Iowa tabs Iowa State assistant Kyle Green as coach

Field Level Media|published: Wed 1st April, 12:12 2026

Mar 4, 2025; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger, JR Blount and Kyle Green watch the Cyclones play the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half at James H. Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

Iowa State assistant Kyle Green accepted a five-year contract on Wednesday to become the new head coach at Northern Iowa.

The move represents a return to the university for Green, who spent 16 seasons as an assistant with the Panthers spread over three stints (2001-03, 2006-11 and 2012-21) before joining the Cyclones as an assistant prior to the 2021-22 campaign.

"I am incredibly honored and grateful for the opportunity to become the next head coach at UNI, a university and community that has meant so much to me and my family," Green said.

"... 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. Go Panthers!"

The addition of Green comes on the heels of Jacobson accepting an offer for the same post at Utah State. Jacobson spent the past 20 seasons on the sideline at Northern Iowa before stepping down after the team's 79-53 loss to St. John's in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Panthers finished with a 23-13 record (11-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference).

--Field Level Media

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