Job like going home for McKowen

By Dylan Montz, The Gazette

FAYETTE - At Upper Iowa University, Brooks McKowen is family.

McKowen's parents and brother graduated from Upper Iowa and now it's his turn to invest in the university as men's basketball coach.

“Without question ... they are Peacocks,” UIU Athletics Director David Miller said about the McKowen family. “I learned early on this process this is not just any ordinary job that Brooks was going after. Brooks targeted Upper Iowa, and Brooks wants to be at Upper Iowa. This is a position he has coveted, and that's the type of individual that we want.”

McKowen was introduced as the school's 18th men's basketball coach Tuesday.

“I believe this place is a special place,” McKowen said. “The reason is because of the people that make it. Everybody that I have met here so far and talked to and the people that I know from here have been awesome. I know they truly believe in Upper Iowa, and they care so much not only about the student-athletes but about Upper Iowa and Fayette as a whole.”

McKowen arrives at Upper Iowa after serving as an assistant coach for the last two years at Southwest Minnesota State. Born and raised 36 minutes away from Fayette in Fairbank, McKowen prepped at Wapsie Valley High School and played there for his father, Marty.

He is Iowa's all-time leading high school scorer with 2,831 points and was Iowa's Mr. Basketball in 2003. McKowen played at Northern Iowa for Greg McDermott and Ben Jacobson.

As a player and coach at Northern Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College and Southwest Minnesota State, McKowen said he has learned a valuable lesson that will sustain him in his coaching career.

“Stay humble,” McKowen said. “As a basketball coach, whether you are winning or losing, you've got to make sure you stay humble. If you don't, something is going to happen to humble you very quickly. I think you need to stay humble, and Coach (Brad) Bigler has taught me that very well the past two years (at Southwest).”

McKowen said he will coach his team to “play very fast” and be shooters when they have good looks at the basket. He jokingly said he won't expect his players to pass up open shots, because he didn't as a player.

Playing the style of basketball McKowen talked about Tuesday and working with someone so familiar is pleasing to Upper Iowa junior guard Bo Pagel.

“This is a great opportunity for us,” Pagel said. “I grew up about 10 minutes away from (Fairbank) in Sumner. I used to go to a lot of camps where Marty and Brooks were coaching and helping out. I've known Brooks for a while and have always looked up to a guy like that.

“I think he's the real deal and I'm excited about it.”