By MVC correspondent Brian Doolittle
It’s a familiar refrain among small-college basketball programs seeking a new head coach.
The goal is to recruit the ideal leader, then hope they bring the best student-athletes into the program while becoming an integral part of the local community.
That idealistic process has elusive results, but a good model to follow exists in vibrant fashion in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
You know what school is located in Cedar Falls, right? Well, if the name is escaping you, don’t feel guilty. Even basketball fans that are familiar with Northern Iowa do not necessarily have their campus location dialed automatically into their memory.
Ironically, UNI men’s head coach Ben Jacobson said, “It’s hard to get teams to come here (McLeod Center). So there’s more neutral-site and road games. Getting teams to come to our arenas is hard in this conference.”
Few universities have achieved the impressive stability in their basketball programs that exists in Northern Iowa. Jacobson is entering his 13th season. Meanwhile, head coach Tanya Warren is preparing for her 12th season leading the Panthers.
So far, each has enjoyed quite a ride. Warren has the most wins in UNI women’s history at 205-153 and is a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year.
Jacobson, also a three-time MVC Coach of the Year, has a career mark of 250-150. He renewed his coaching contract this past offseason, which is now good through 2027.
The men finished 16-16 last season (7-11 MVC) and return just two starters. Sophomore 6-4 guard Tywhon Pickford is recovering from a stress fracture in his foot, but is aiming to be ready for the season opener.
Pickford averaged 9.1 points and 7.8 rebounds last season. That set a UNI freshman rebounding record and marked the most rebounds from any player under 6-5 in the nation.
Junior forward Isaiah Brown (6.2 ppg) also returns this season.
“I love to play defense, and it’s something I really take to heart. Whoever is the other’s best player, that’s who I want to guard. I love to disrupt the other team’s offense,” said Brown.
“I’ve talked with Isaiah about how important last season’s experience was. That game against Loyola was a big deal. We were in position to win that game,” said Jacobson, “That will pay off, and he’s ready for when that position comes up again.”
Redshirt senior and Iowa high school hoops legend Wyatt Lohaus (9.3 ppg) was the Panthers’ top bench player. He dropped 25 points with six made 3s in a win last season over Bradley. Also returning is redshirt junior guard Spencer Haldeman (6.1 ppg).
“Our goals don’t really change from year to year ... More than anything else, we what we do talk about is how can we can make sure our seniors have their best year,” Jacobson said.
Among the new players, the center of attention is on 6-4 sharp-shooting guard AJ Green. The all-time scorer at Cedar Falls High, Green was a top-80 national recruit. But he decided to stay home and play for Jacobson and his father, Associate Head Coach Kyle Green.
“AJ and I are similar. He’s a more reserved kid, and has been great so far. He would rather spend his time in the gym, and loves the game of basketball. He’s hard on himself, and his work ethic is impressive,” said Lohaus.
Green, the highest-rated prospect in UNI history, has the green light to shoot. Jacobson said “He’s earned that right to be that guy, and be that guy from day one.”
Pepperdine transfer Trae Berhow, a sophomore guard, is also expected to contribute immediately.
“Trae (Berhow), right now, is the perfect player to come in … he’s real active, can shoot it and is a smart player,” said Brown.
Warren’s team finished 19-14 last season, but 13-5 in Valley play. The Panthers return nine of their top 10 scorers, losing only a single player to graduation.
Junior forward Megan Maahs averaged 10.4 points and 9.8 rebounds last season and was named to the MVC All-Conference and All-Defensive Teams. Also returning is redshirt senior guard Ellie Howell (10 ppg) and senior guard Mikaela Morgan (7.6 ppg).
Warren was a star play at Creighton, where her jersey is retired. She also had a memorable career at Des Moines Lincoln High and is a member of the Iowa High School Girls Hall of Fame.
UNI was picked second in the MVC Women’s Preseason Poll, behind Drake, which defeated the Panthers in the MVC tourney title game last March, 75-63. The men were picked to finish fifth.