UNK Men's Basketball selects Levinson as new Head Coach

KEARNEY, Neb. – After spending most of last season with an interim head coach, the Lopers are hiring former UNK player and graduate assistant Marty Levinson to lead the men's basketball program.

Levinson is a Grand Island native, and went to Grand Island Senior High and Bellevue West High School. He graduated college from UNK.

He will replace Antoine Young, who was the interim head coach this season after previous head coach Kevin Lofton resigned one game into the 2023-24 season.

"It's an honor to announce Marty Levinson as Head Men's Basketball Coach at UNK. Coach Levinson is enthusiastic about his return home to Nebraska and to lead the Loper Men's Basketball program in the MIAA," said UNK Director of Athletics Marc Bauer. "He has proven his ability to build programs and lead with integrity while ensuring his players excel in the classroom, community, and life."

Levinson has also held coaching positions at Grand Island Central Catholic, UNK, and Central C.C.-Columbus in Nebraska. 

Levinson has spent the past seven seasons as a head coach in the south at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas 
and Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden, Ark.

In those seasons, he has a career record of 191-94 (.670), been named District Coach of the Year five times and Region Coach of the Year on four occasions. 

"I'm honored and grateful to be named the head men's basketball coach at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. To follow in the footsteps of great men like Dr. Tom Kropp, Jerry Heuser and Kevin Lofton is a responsibility that I do not take lightly," said Levinson. "Many special people and great teams have worn Loper Blue and Gold, and I will put my heart and soul into building relationships and preparing young men for the world just like the leaders before me."

UNK will formally introduce Levinson on April 5 at 9 a.m. in the Health & Sports Center. He begins his duties immediately.