The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee competes in the Horizon League and had its greatest basketball success in the mid-2000s under coach Bruce Pearl. The Panthers have made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and represent the largest city in Wisconsin in Division I basketball.
The Panthers mascot was adopted in 1965 following a student referendum to replace the Cardinals, giving the Milwaukee campus a strong and distinctive athletic identity.
The 2005 Sweet Sixteen run under Bruce Pearl, when the Panthers upset Alabama and Boston College before falling to Illinois, the program's deepest NCAA Tournament run.
Bruce Pearl's tenure at Milwaukee launched him to stardom, leading to his hire at Tennessee and later Auburn, where he reached the Final Four in 2019.
The Milwaukee Panthers compete in the Horizon League and hold an all-time record of 629–653 (.491 winning percentage) across 43 recorded seasons dating back to 1973-74.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 12-20 | 8-12 (Horizon) | Bart Lundy | |
| 2024-25 | 21-11 | 14-6 (Horizon) | Bart Lundy | |
| 2023-24 | 20-15 | 12-8 (Horizon) | Bart Lundy | |
| 2022-23 | 22-12 | 14-6 (Horizon) | Bart Lundy | |
| 2021-22 | 10-22 | 8-14 (Horizon) | Pat Baldwin | |
| 2020-21 | 10-12 | 7-10 (Horizon) | Pat Baldwin | |
| 2019-20 | 12-19 | 7-11 (Horizon) | Pat Baldwin | |
| 2018-19 | 9-22 | 4-14 (Horizon) | Pat Baldwin | |
| 2017-18 | 16-17 | 8-10 (Horizon) | Pat Baldwin | |
| 2016-17 | 11-24 | 4-14 (Horizon) | LaVall Jordan | |
| 2015-16 | 20-13 | 10-8 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2014-15 | 14-16 | 9-7 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2013-14 | 21-14 | 7-9 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2012-13 | 8-24 | 3-13 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2011-12 | 20-14 | 11-7 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2010-11 | 19-14 | 13-5 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2009-10 | 20-14 | 10-8 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2008-09 | 17-14 | 11-7 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2007-08 | 14-16 | 9-9 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2006-07 | 9-22 | 6-10 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2005-06 | 22-9 | 12-4 (Horizon) | Rob Jeter | |
| 2004-05 | 26-6 | 14-2 (Horizon) | Bruce Pearl | |
| 2003-04 | 20-11 | 13-3 (Horizon) | Bruce Pearl | |
| 2002-03 | 24-8 | 13-3 (Horizon) | Bruce Pearl | |
| 2001-02 | 16-13 | 11-5 (Horizon) | Bruce Pearl | |
| 2000-01 | 15-13 | 7-7 (MW Coll) | Bo Ryan | |
| 1999-00 | 15-14 | 6-8 (MW Coll) | Bo Ryan | |
| 1998-99 | 8-19 | 5-9 (MW Coll) | Ric Cobb | |
| 1997-98 | 3-24 | 2-12 (MW Coll) | Ric Cobb | |
| 1996-97 | 8-20 | 4-12 (MW Coll) | Ric Cobb | |
| 1995-96 | 9-18 | 5-11 (MW Coll) | Ric Cobb | |
| 1994-95 | 3-24 | 2-13 (MW Coll) | Steve Antrim | |
| 1993-94 | 10-17 | 7-11 (Mid-Cont) | Steve Antrim | |
| 1992-93 | 23-4 | Ind | Steve Antrim | |
| 1991-92 | 20-8 | Ind | Steve Antrim | |
| 1990-91 | 18-10 | Ind | Steve Antrim | |
| 1979-80 | 9-17 | Ind | Bob Gottlieb | |
| 1978-79 | 8-18 | Ind | Bob Gottlieb | |
| 1977-78 | 15-12 | Ind | Bob Gottlieb | |
| 1976-77 | 19-8 | Ind | Bob Gottlieb | |
| 1975-76 | 11-15 | Ind | Bob Gottlieb | |
| 1974-75 | 8-18 | Ind | Bill Klucas | |
| 1973-74 | 14-12 | Ind | Bill Klucas |
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| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|