Skip To Main Content

University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Kevin Lofton

Kevin Lofton

Alma Mater:             Regis (Colo.) University
Graduating Yr.:       1992
Experience:             7th as head coach; 27th on staff

Coaching Career
Present: Nebraska-Kearney (Head Coach)
2005-15: Nebraska-Kearney (Co-Head Coach)
2001-05: Nebraska-Kearney (Associate Head Coach)
1997-01: Nebraska-Kearney (Assistant Head Coach)
1995-97: Nebraska-Kearney (Graduate Assistant Coach)
1994-95: North Platte Community College, Neb. (Assistant Coach)


With the end of the 2021-22 season, Kevin Lofton completed his 27th year as member of the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball coaching staff.

In March 2015, he was elevated to head coach after fellow co-head coach Tom Kropp announced his retirement. Lofton is the 21st Loper men's basketball coach in school history and the fourth since 1970.

Over the last seven seasons UNK has gone 102-98 and recorded the program's first back-to-back 20-win seasons in a decade. The Lopers advanced to 2016 NCAA Tournament round of 32 and reached the MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Assoc.) Tournament quarterfinals in five of the last nine years. That includes two trips to the semifinals and an appearance in the 2016 finals.

Since his promotion from associate head coach in 2005, the Lopers have achieved a record of 258-223, including 170 conference wins. This included UNK’s transition from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) to the MIAA with the 2012-13 season.Kevin Lofton

Over Lofton’s 20 plus years on the bench in various roles, he has helped the Lopers reach 11 NCAA Tournaments including two visits to the Sweet Sixteen and the 2003 Elite Eight. He’s also been apart of 12 of the program’s 25 20-win seasons.

Individually, Lofton has seen 14 different players tabbed All-MIAA over the last seven winters including forward Connor Beranek. A 2016 All-American selection, he also was tabbed the 2015 MIAA Player of the Year and played professionally in Europe. 

In 2017-18, forward Trey Lansman wrapped up a four-year Loper career with an All-Central Region selection. He became the fifth Loper to reach the 2,000-point milestone and was one of three seniors named All-MIAA. Lansman returned to UNK the following fall to play football, becoming an All-MIAA receiver. 

During the 2016-17 season the Lopers went 20-10 to place third in the league. Despite losing Beranek and a three-time All-MIAA Ethan Brozek to graduation, UNK recorded the 26th 20-win season school history. Kearney went 12-3 in the Health & Sports Center and was among the highest scoring teams (79.8) in the league. Individually, Lansman was named first-team All-MIAA with three guards named honorable mention.

A year later Lansman and Kearney overcame a serious of injuries to post a 16-14 (11-8 MIAA) mark. Beating defending national champion Northwest Missouri State at the Health & Sports Center, the Loper rallied late to once again reach the MIAA Tourney. UNK went 12-2 at home and averaged 77.6 points per night. Finally, the team had well over a 3.00 cumulative grade point average. 

Antoine Young and Kevin LoftonA young Loper squad was involved in an unprecedented 16 games decided by 10 points or less in 2018-19. Picking up wins over nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines and regionally-ranked Fort Hays State, the Lopers won 10 games, had two All-MIAA players and was among the league leaders in blocks.

In 2019-20, UNK posted a 16-13 mark, defeating NCAA Tournament qualifiers Rogers State and Colorado Mines. The Lopers qualified for the MIAA Tournament, had three seniors tabbed All-MIAA and posted an 11-3 mark in the H & S Center. One of the seniors named all-league was forward Morgan Soucie. The former walk-on took a redshirt in his first season and then developed into one of the MIAA's best players that winter, leading UNK in points, rebounds, assists and blocks. 

The COVID pandemic limited MIAA teams to just 22 games in 2020-21. The Lopers had 19 of its’ games decided by 12 points or less with two players being tabbed all-league. UNK upped its’ win total in 2021-22 as transfer guard David Simental came in at 18.8 points per game. The team shot nearly 50% from the field and scored the same amount of points (2,057) as its’ opponents.

During the 2015-16 campaign, UNK went 21-12 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time in program history. The Lopers beat rival For Hays State in a Central Regional game in Sioux Falls, S.D., before falling to eventual national champion Augustana. The 79-67 win over the Tigers marked UNK's 21st all-time national tournament victory.

Tying for second place in the MIAA during the regular season, UNK reached the MIAA Tournament finals in Kansas City. The Lopers beat Lincoln and Missouri Southern to give the program its' 25th 20-win season. Beranek averaged 25.2 points per game, the second highest mark in Loper lore, with Brozek leading UNK in assists (113). Beranek went on to earn All-American honors, becoming the fifth Loper in the D2 era to earn that status. All five were coached by Lofton. 

In his second year as co-head coach in 2006-07, Lofton helped the Lopers reach the second round of the NCAA's. He and Kropp were named the RMAC Co-Coaches of the Year thanks to a 24-7 record. Helping the Lopers reach the NCAA's during Lofton’s first two years was lefty post Dusty Jura. Kevin Lofton?

Lofton helped Jura develop into a two-time All-American who averaged a double double as a senior. Jura finished his career second on the all-time scoring list (2,158) and was named the 2007 RMAC Player of the Year. Subsequently, he had a lengthy pro career overseas.
 
In 2007-08 Lofton helped mold Garrett Lever into the RMAC Freshman of the Year and the NCAA Division II leader in steals per game. Lever is currently a Division I assistant coach. Next, Drake Beranek, Connor's older brother, was a first-team All-RMAC selection.

During the 2010-11 season, Lofton saw Mike Dentlinger be named the RMAC Freshman of the Year and also be tabbed a freshman All-American. In the Lopers final year in the RMAC, Dentlinger was a first-team All-RMAC choice. When the Lopers joined the MIAA in 2012, Dentlinger earned Academic All-American honors for a second straight winter.

Prior to being named co-head coach, Lofton spent four years as UNK’s associate head coach from 2001-05. He came to Kearney as a graduate assistant in 1995 and was promoted to full-time status in 1997. Lofton began his coaching career at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte, Neb.

An Arizona native, Lofton played at Yavapai (Ariz.) Community College before transferring to RMAC-member Regis. He holds an undergraduate degree in Communications from Regis and a Master's degree from UNK.


YEAR BY YEAR WITH COACH LOFTON
As solo head coach
2021-22           11-17    (7-15)  
2020-21           8-14      (8-14)  
2019-20           16-13    (10-9)  MIAA Tour. 1st Round
2018-19           10-18    (5-14) 
2017-18           16-14    (11-8)  MIAA Tour. Quarterfinals
2016-17           20-10    (12-7)  MIAA Tour. Semifinals
2015-16           21-12    (14-8)  NCAA 2nd Round; MIAA Tour. Runners Up
Totals              102-98   (67-75)

As co-head coach
2014-15          18-10    (12-7)  MIAA Tour. Quarters
2013-14          15-13    (10-9)  MIAA Tour. Quarters
2012-13           7-19    (4-14)
2011-12           16-12   (13-9)   RMAC Tour. Semifinals
2010-11           13-14   (11-11)  RMAC Tour. 1st Round
2009-10           13-14   (8-11)
2008-09           11-15   (8-11)
2007-08           16-13   (13-6)  RMAC Tour. Semifinals
2006-07           24-7     (16-3)  NCAA 2nd Round; 2nd in the RMAC
2005-06           23-8     (15-4)  RMAC Tour. Champs; NCAA 1st Round
Totals              156-125 (110-85)

Overall            258-223 (177-160)