Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball

Northern Colorado began men’s 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 2005–06 seasons while transitioning to NCAA Division I men's basketball. The move was finalized in 2006 with the program’s entry into Division I and membership in the Big Sky Conference. ==Coaches==

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. : ^ Northern Colorado did not field a team for the 1903–04, 1907–08, or 1909–10 seasons. : * ''Northern Colorado vacated all results between 2010 and 2015. Hill's on-court record is 86–98 (.467).'' ==Players==

Career leaders Individual awards All-Americans Big Sky Player of the Year • Devon Beitzel – 2011 • Jordan Davis – 2019 Big Sky Rookie of the Year • Bodie Hume – 2019 Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year • Yahosh Bonner - 2010 • Jonah Radebaugh - 2017, 2019, 2020 Big Sky Sixth Man of the Year • Kai Edwards - 2020 • Dejour Reaves - 2024 Big Sky Tournament MVP • Devon Beitzel - 2011 Big Sky All-Conference First Team • Jabril Banks - 2009 • Will Figures - 2010 • Devon Beitzel - 2011 • Derrick Barden - 2013 • Andre Spight - 2018 • Jordan Davis - 2019 • Jonah Radebaugh - 2020 • Daylen Kountz - 2022 • Saint Thomas - 2024 • Langston Reynolds - 2025 • Isaiah Hawthorne - 2025 • Jaron Rillie - 2025 • Quinn Denker - 2026 Big Sky All-Conference Second Team • Devon Beitzel - 2010 • Neal Kingman - 2011 • Tate Unrah - 2013, 2014 • Derrick Barden - 2014 • Bodie Hume - 2020 • Dalton Knecht - 2023 • Dejour Reaves - 2024 • Brock Wisne - 2026 Big Sky All-Conference Third Team • Jordan Davis - 2017, 2018 • Bodie Hume - 2021 • Matt Johnson II - 2021, 2022 Big Sky All-Conference Defensive Team • Zach Bloch - 2025, 2026 ==Postseason history==

NCAA Division I tournament results 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). NCAA Division II tournament results The Bears have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament four times. Their combined record is 1–6. NIT results The Bears have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 0–1. CBI results The Bears have appeared in two College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their combined record is 2–2. CIT results 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 5–2. They were CIT champions in 2018. ==Bears in the NBA==