Head Coach
Steve Smiley
Coach data is provided for recruiting research and should be confirmed with the official athletics website before contact.
Basketball Staff Contacts
Verified 2026-08-15 from this program's own staff page. Staff change during the recruiting cycle, so confirm before sending outreach.
| Name | Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Smiley | Head Men's Basketball Coach | stephen.smiley@unco.edu |
| Dorian Green | Assistant Head Coach and Director of Advanced Scouting | dorian.green@unco.edu |
| Houston Reed | Assistant Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator | houston.reed@unco.edu |
| Brett Cloepfil | Assistant Coach and Director of Performance | brett.cloepfil@unco.edu |
| Colin Gause | Assistant Coach and Director of Basketball Operations | colin.gause@unco.edu |
| Demitrius Martin | Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development | demitrius.martin@unco.edu |
| Payne Kesler | Director of Sports Performance for Olympic Sports | thomas.kesler@unco.edu |
| Eddie Boyer | Athletic Mental Health Coordinator | eddie.boyer@unco.edu |
| Abby Depperschmidt | Director for Student-Athlete Academic Success | abby.depperschmidt@unco.edu |
| Aiden Tank | Director of Strategic Communications (WSOC, FB, MBB, S&D, TF/ XC, SB) | aiden.tank@unco.edu |
About Northern Colorado Bears Basketball
Northern Colorado basketball competes in the Big Sky Conference, a mid-major league that consistently produces competitive NCAA Tournament teams and professional opportunities. Located in Greeley, the program provides student-athletes with access to a well-rounded academic environment that prioritizes degree completion and personal development. Head coach Steve Smiley emphasizes a team-first culture built on defensive intensity, discipline, and basketball fundamentals. The Bears play in a conference known for tough defensive schemes and tournament-tested talent, giving players exposure at a legitimate collegiate level. Northern Colorado offers recruits the chance to develop in a program that values both on-court performance and off-court growth. The coaching staff actively recruits players ready to compete immediately and contribute to a winning program. Prospective athletes should reach out to explore how Northern Colorado can provide the right balance of athletic competition and educational opportunity.
Net price
$18,711/yr
Above D1 median ($17,886)
Grad rate
49%
Below D1 median (67%)
Enrollment
5,598
Below D1 median (9,019)
Data compiled by Florida Coastal Prep · floridacoastalprep.com/d1-basketball-programs/
Full cost & outcomes
College Cost & Enrollment
Federal College Scorecard snapshot (retrieved 2026-11-04). Not a tuition quote.
Net price by family income
- $0–$30,000
- $14,903 / year
- $30,001–$48,000
- $15,715 / year
- $48,001–$75,000
- $15,834 / year
- $75,001–$110,000
- $19,030 / year
- $110,001+
- $25,151 / year
More enrollment & tuition figures
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 5,598
- Average net price
- $18,711 / year (in-state)
- Published tuition (in-state)
- $12,882 / year
- Published tuition (out-of-state)
- $28,370 / year
- Graduation rate
- 49%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Data compiled by Florida Coastal Prep · floridacoastalprep.com/d1-basketball-programs/
D1 men's basketball recruiting calendar
NCAA Division I contact, evaluation, quiet, and dead periods are the same for every men's program, including this one. This is not a Northern Colorado Bears camp or visit schedule.
Confirm rules with your target school's compliance office before visits or commitments.
Roster context has not been researched for this program yet.
Explore more
Net price #198 of 360 · Enroll #253
Big Sky Teams
| School | Location | Enrollment | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Washington
View program →
|
Location Cheney, WA | Enrollment 6,222 | Avg. net price $13,647 |
Idaho
View program →
|
Location Moscow, ID | Enrollment 7,747 | Avg. net price $15,321 |
Idaho State
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|
Location Pocatello, ID | Enrollment 7,583 | Avg. net price $8,910 |
Montana
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|
Location Missoula, MT | Enrollment 7,488 | Avg. net price $21,302 |
Montana State
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|
Location Bozeman, MT | Enrollment 14,451 | Avg. net price $23,106 |
Northern Arizona
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|
Location Flagstaff, AZ | Enrollment 22,903 | Avg. net price $17,265 |
Northern Colorado
View program →
|
Location Greeley, CO | Enrollment 5,598 | Avg. net price $18,711 |
Portland State
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|
Location Portland, OR | Enrollment 13,182 | Avg. net price $8,337 |
Sacramento State
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|
Location Sacramento, CA | Enrollment 28,350 | Avg. net price $11,186 |
Utah Tech University
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|
Location St. George, UT | Enrollment 8,552 | Avg. net price $18,287 |
Weber State
View program →
|
Location Ogden, UT | Enrollment 16,360 | Avg. net price $10,237 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Northern Colorado D1?
Yes, Northern Colorado is an NCAA Division I program in the Big Sky. This page lists division, conference, coach contacts, and recruiting context for Northern Colorado men's basketball.
What conference is Northern Colorado in?
Northern Colorado competes in the Big Sky for D1 men's basketball.
What is the average net price at Northern Colorado?
Federal College Scorecard data lists an average net price of $18,711 per year for in-state students who received federal aid, after grants and scholarships. This is not a tuition quote.
What is undergraduate enrollment at Northern Colorado?
College Scorecard reports approximately 5,598 undergraduate students. Confirm current enrollment on the school's official website.
How do I get recruited to Northern Colorado?
Build updated game film, complete NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements for D1, and contact the coaching staff using verified emails on this page or the official athletics staff directory. FCP helps players prepare film and recruiting profiles for D1 programs. See floridacoastalprep.com/apply/ and the how-to-get-recruited guide on this site.
Compete at the Level Northern Colorado Bears Scouts
D1 coaches evaluate players in the context of their competition. FCP builds a schedule that puts you in front of the right coaches at the right tournaments, giving your film the competitive context that programs like Northern Colorado Bears need to make a decision.
Coaching contacts compiled by the FCP recruiting staff. Cost and graduation figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-11-04.