Green becomes the 26th head coach in program history after a coaching career that has spanned over 30 years across multiple NCAA divisions, including 16 seasons as an assistant coach at Northern Iowa.
Franklin confirmed that Green has agreed to a five-year contract. He will be formally introduced to the UNI community as head coach at a press conference at a date to be announced.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Kyle Green back to the University of Northern Iowa,” said Nook. “Kyle and his family have been a big part of UNI athletics for two decades. Kyle was an integral part of the Panther coaching staff during some of our most successful seasons and helped develop many outstanding players. I look forward to Kyle’s leadership in continuing to grow the legacy of Panther Men’s Basketball.”
Green returns to Cedar Falls after spending the previous five years as an assistant coach at Iowa State under head coach T.J. Otzelberger. The Cyclones reached the NCAA Tournament in all five seasons with Green on staff, which included 124 total wins, a pair of trips to the Sweet Sixteen and a 2024 Big 12 Tournament title. Iowa State also recorded 29 victories over AP top-25 ranked opponents with Green on the bench, including three against No. 1 ranked challengers, as well as three All-American athletes in Tamin Lipsey, Curtis Jones and Joshua Jefferson.
Green’s impact on the ISU defense was felt immediately with his hiring in 2021 with the Cyclones ranking in the top-25 nationally in scoring defense, steals per game and three-point percentage defense in his first season. Iowa State jumped from just two wins a year prior to Green’s arrival to 22. Iowa State has ranked in the top-25 in Division I in scoring defense in four of Green’s five years in Ames, with a top-25 ranking in steals per game each season as well.
Green spent 16 total seasons as an assistant coach at UNI during three separate stints with the Panthers from 2001-03, 2006-11 and 2012-21 under head coaches Greg McDermott and Ben Jacobson. He spent his last four years in Cedar Falls as associate head coach under Jacobson.