Full speed ahead: Missouri Western hires Brooks McKowen as head coach
ST. JOSEPH, MO. (News-Press NOW) - Out on the campus of Missouri Western, Director of Athletics Andy Carter has had his hands full in recent weeks, working to fill head coaching vacancies for both Griffon men’s and women’s basketball. After former men’s basketball coach Will Martin’s resignation earlier this month, Carter, along with Collegiate Consulting, wasted no time launching a search for the program’s next leader.
On Tuesday, that search came to an end as Missouri Western announced Brooks McKowen as the seventh head coach in Griffon men’s basketball history.
“We want to be in the top three of the league every year and be in a regional tournament,” Carter said. “Then taking a chance on getting to the Elite Eight, Final Four and further.”
That is the standard Carter believes McKowen can help Missouri Western men’s basketball reach, and for good reason. Carter was already familiar with McKowen’s coaching style during his time as athletic director at Minot State, where McKowen’s Upper Iowa teams competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) through the 2022-23 season.
From the first time Carter saw the pace of the offense, he was hooked on the effectiveness of playing fast.
“I was always drawn to their level of toughness and pace that they play at,” Carter said. “Then they moved to the GLVC, which is obviously a really tough conference as well, and they held their own.”
McKowen’s fast-paced style has proven to be a winning formula. In 12 seasons as a head coach, he has amassed more than 200 wins, including nine winning seasons. His résumé includes four 20-win campaigns and three NCAA Division II Tournament appearances.
In fact, McKowen's teams have won at least 21 games in three of the previous four seasons, including a 21-9 mark in 2024-25, a 22-10 record in 23-24 and a program best 26-6 season in 21-22.
That up-tempo approach isn’t just effective on the court, it’s also appealing to recruits. McKowen’s teams have averaged at least 80 points per game in each of the last 12 seasons, making his up-tempo style exciting for both players and fans.
“They're going to push the envelope. They've averaged over 80 points a game in his tenure and that's going to be a little bit different than what we've done in the past,” Carter said. “I think when you’re trying to attract recruits, they want to be part of something that’s upbeat and fast and where they get to showcase their abilities.”
Carter and his team narrowed the search to a final group of about five candidates, all of whom he believed could be a great fit. Ultimately, three were brought to campus for in-person interviews and a tour of facilities.
McKowen arrives at Missouri Western with strong recruiting ties in Iowa and Missouri. He’s no stranger to St. Joseph and the surrounding area either, having competed in the Hillyard Classic multiple times and facing off against former Northwest Missouri State coach Ben McCollum on several occasions.
“He was blown away by our campus and our people and our commitment to being successful,” Carter said. “We were blown away by his vision for what our program can be.”
The new head coach will be formally introduced on Friday, and once the press conference is wrapped up, it'll be straight to business for the team.
“We've got a lot of work to do to help him get his roster together,” Carter said. “You know, it’s set up for fast, right? The portal and everything else, and if you can find people that want to be here, we can make it happen.”
