FAYETTE, IOWA – Upper Iowa University announced today that Brooks McKowen, who has spent the past two seasons as an assistant men's basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State University, has been hired as its 18th head men's basketball coach in UIU's 98-year history.

A press conference to formally introduce McKowen will be on Tuesday morning at 10:30 in the second level of the Upper Iowa Student Center.

McKowen served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at SMSU under head coach Brad Bigler.

"The Mustang basketball family is thankful for all of the hard work Brooks has put in the past two seasons at SMSU and was a vital part of our success during his tenure," Bigler said. "My family wishes the best of luck to Brooks and Amanda in the future. I would consider them family with everything we have been through the last two years."

During his first season on the Mustang sideline in 2011-12, McKowen helped lead SMSU to a 19-win season, a second place finish in the NSIC, the first NSIC tournament championship in team history and the program's third appearance in the NCAA tournament.

In 2012-13, SMSU recorded 16 victories and finished seventh in the expanded 16-team NSIC. The Mustangs led the NSIC in field goal percentage, ranked fourth in scoring and fourth in field goal percentage defense.

McKowen came to SMSU after spending the 2010-11 season as an assistant coach at Des Moines Area Community College. Prior to joining DMACC, McKowen spent three seasons (2007-10) on the coaching staff at the University of Northern Iowa. He served his first two seasons as a graduate assistant coach, before moving to video coordinator in his final season. In 2009-10, UNI advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament.

Both Bigler and McKowen's fathers are long-time successful boys' basketball head coaches in the state of Iowa. "When Brooks first applied for the position at SMSU, we talked about our fathers rivalry," Bigler said. "Now I'm happy to say we will have our own rivalry as well."

McKowen is a native of Fairbank, Iowa, which is located just 27 miles from the UIU campus. He is a 2007 graduate of UNI in physical education and earned his master's degree from UNI in 2009 with a degree in physical education and coaching.

Bigler said a search to replace McKowen would begin immediately.