The Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado made its first and to date only NCAA tournament appearance in 2011.
Northern Colorado began menâÂÂs basketball play in 1901. The program joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1924 and remained in that conference into 1973. From 1973 to 1976, Northern Colorado moved and competed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference before a brief period as an independent. In 1979, the Bears joined the North Central Conference. Northern Colorado then competed as an independent during the 2003-04 through 2005âÂÂ06 seasons while transitioning to NCAA Division I men's basketball. The move was finalized in 2006 with the programâÂÂs entry into Division I and membership in the Big Sky Conference.
The following is a list of Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball head coaches. There have been 20 head coaches of the Bears in their 120-season history.
Northern Colorado's current head coach is Steve Smiley. He was hired as the Bears' head coach in March 2020, replacing Jeff Linder, who left to become the head coach at Wyoming. Smiley served as associate head coach before moving to the head coaching role.
Northern Colorado has had three Big Sky Coach of the Year award winners. B.J. Hill won in 2011, Jeff Linder won in 2019, and Steve Smiley won in 2024.
Big Sky Rookie of the Year
Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year
Big Sky Sixth Man of the Year
Big Sky All-Conference First Team
Big Sky All-Conference Second Team
Big Sky All-Conference Third Team
Big Sky All-Conference Defensive Team
The Bears have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament once, where they lost to San Diego State in 2011 (led by coach B. J. Hill).
The Bears have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament four times. Their combined record is 1âÂÂ6.
The Bears have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 0âÂÂ1.
The Bears have appeared in two College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their combined record is 2âÂÂ2.
The Bears have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) three times under three different head coaches (Tad Boyle, B. J. Hill, Jeff Linder). Their combined record is 5âÂÂ2. They were CIT champions in 2018.