Missouri Western State University Men's Basketball

Brooks McKowen comes to MWSU from Upper Iowa University, where he spent 12 seasons guiding the Peacocks, amassing a 209-148 career record and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Upper Iowa competed for 10 years in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference before moving to the Great Lakes Valley Conference the past two years.   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. The Peacocks have posted winning seasons in 10 of McKowen's 12 years on the sidelines. Known for their trademark fast-paced brand, the Peacocks have averaged at least 80 points per game in each of the last 12 seasons. Prior to UIU, the Fairbank, Iowa native spent two seasons as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn.    A 2007 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, McKowen was a four-year letter winner at point guard, ranking second all-time in assists and fourth all time in minutes played. Playing for head coaches Greg McDermott and Ben Jacobson, He helped lead the Panthers to three 20-plus win seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Following graduation, McKowen spent three seasons (2007-2010) on the coaching staff at UNI, while earning his master's degree in physical education and coaching.   The Fairbank, Iowa native also holds the Iowa state high school record for both points in a season (1,002 in 2003) and points in a career (2,831 from 2000-03).    Brooks and his wife Amanda have four children: Kahler (8), Banks (6), Kelik (4) and Lanik (2). 

Joel Hanson officially became a Griffon in April 2025.  Prior to Missouri Western, Hanson served as an assistant coach at Upper Iowa for the 2024-25 season and was the program's graduate assistant during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. He spent the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston. The Decorah, Iowa native was a manager for the Iowa State men's basketball team during the years 2018-21.  

Danny Tabaska joined the Missouri Western men's basketball coaching staff in April 2025.  Tabaska was a graduate assistant at Upper Iowa university  under Brooks McKowen for the last two seasons. Prior to his stint with the Peacocks, he worked as a manager for the Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team from 2019-2023. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tabaska graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and strategic communications.