The University of Northern Colorado in Greeley competes in the Big Sky Conference and has built a competitive basketball program. The Bears have contended for Big Sky titles and produced professional basketball players.
The Bears mascot represents the black bears found in the Rocky Mountain foothills near Greeley, giving the university a rugged Colorado identity.
The 2011 Big Sky Conference Tournament championship run, earning the Bears an NCAA Tournament appearance and their moment on the national stage.
Northern Colorado's Bank of Colorado Arena provides one of the more intimate settings in the Big Sky Conference, with student sections creating a loud atmosphere for visiting teams.
The Northern Colorado Bears compete in the Big Sky and hold an all-time record of 388–504 (.435 winning percentage) across 55 recorded seasons dating back to 1910-11.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 20-12 | 10-8 (Big Sky) | Steve Smiley | |
| 2024-25 | 25-10 | 15-3 (Big Sky) | Steve Smiley | |
| 2023-24 | 19-14 | 12-6 (Big Sky) | Steve Smiley | |
| 2022-23 | 12-20 | 6-12 (Big Sky) | Steve Smiley | |
| 2021-22 | 22-16 | 13-7 (Big Sky) | Steve Smiley | |
| 2020-21 | 11-11 | 6-8 (Big Sky) | Steve Smiley | |
| 2019-20 | 22-9 | 15-5 (Big Sky) | Jeff Linder | |
| 2018-19 | 21-11 | 15-5 (Big Sky) | Jeff Linder | |
| 2017-18 | 26-12 | 11-7 (Big Sky) | Jeff Linder | |
| 2016-17 | 11-18 | 7-11 (Big Sky) | Jeff Linder | |
| 2015-16 | 10-21 | 7-11 (Big Sky) | B.J. Hill | |
| 2014-15 | 15-15 | 10-8 (Big Sky) | B.J. Hill | |
| 2013-14 | 18-14 | 11-9 (Big Sky) | B.J. Hill | |
| 2012-13 | 13-18 | 10-10 (Big Sky) | B.J. Hill | |
| 2011-12 | 9-19 | 5-11 (Big Sky) | B.J. Hill | |
| 2010-11 | 21-11 | 13-3 (Big Sky) | B.J. Hill | |
| 2009-10 | 25-8 | 12-4 (Big Sky) | Tad Boyle | |
| 2008-09 | 14-18 | 8-8 (Big Sky) | Tad Boyle | |
| 2007-08 | 13-16 | 6-10 (Big Sky) | Tad Boyle | |
| 2006-07 | 4-24 | 2-14 (Big Sky) | Tad Boyle | |
| 2005-06 | 5-24 | Ind | Craig Rasmuson | |
| 2004-05 | 8-21 | Ind | Craig Rasmuson | |
| 1977-78 | 11-15 | Ind | ||
| 1976-77 | 9-16 | Ind | ||
| 1975-76 | 11-13 | Ind | ||
| 1974-75 | 14-12 | Ind | ||
| 1973-74 | 15-9 | Ind | ||
| 1943-44 | 1-13 | Ind | John Hancock | |
| 1936-37 | 9-8 | 8-6 (MSAC) | John Davis | |
| 1935-36 | 14-6 | 10-4 (MSAC) | John Davis | |
| 1934-35 | 12-14 | 9-3 (MSAC) | John Davis | |
| 1933-34 | 13-14 | 6-8 (MSAC) | John Davis | |
| 1932-33 | 13-7 | 12-2 (MSAC) | John Davis | |
| 1931-32 | 10-4 | 10-4 (MSAC) | John Davis | |
| 1930-31 | 11-5 | 10-4 (MSAC) | George Cooper | |
| 1929-30 | 7-7 | 7-7 (MSAC) | George Cooper | |
| 1928-29 | 8-6 | 8-6 (MSAC) | George Cooper | |
| 1927-28 | 8-6 | 8-6 (MSAC) | George Cooper | |
| 1926-27 | 10-4 | 10-4 (MSAC) | George Cooper | |
| 1925-26 | 13-5 | 13-1 (MSAC) | George Cooper | |
| 1924-25 | 12-4 | 9-3 (MSAC) | George Cooper | |
| 1923-24 | 10-5 | Ind | George Cooper | |
| 1922-23 | 10-5 | Ind | George Cooper | |
| 1921-22 | 1-3 | Ind | William Search | |
| 1920-21 | 6-3 | Ind | William Search | |
| 1919-20 | 4-7 | Ind | William Search | |
| 1918-19 | 5-9 | Ind | Ralph Glaze | |
| 1917-18 | 3-4 | Ind | Ralph Glaze | |
| 1916-17 | 5-7 | Ind | Paul Abbott | |
| 1915-16 | 1-4 | Ind | Royce Long | |
| 1914-15 | 2-1 | Ind | Royce Long | |
| 1913-14 | 1-2 | Ind | Unknown | |
| 1912-13 | 1-3 | Ind | Unknown | |
| 1911-12 | 5-4 | Ind | Unknown | |
| 1910-11 | 0-2 | Ind | Unknown |
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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 |
|---|