A veteran college coach with more than 25 years of experience, Chris Lowery enters his fourth season at Northwestern as an assistant coach in 2025-26. Since Lowery arrived in Evanston, the ‘Cats have reached two NCAA Tournaments (2023, 2024), recorded two NCAA Tournament victories and posted a winning record in each season.
During his first season on head coach Chris Collins’ staff in 2022-23, he earned the inaugural Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year Award, which is voted on by Big Ten Conference head coaches.
Most recently in 2024-25 the Wildcats posted a KenPom Defensive Adjusted Efficiency (37) inside the Top 50 for the third straight season. Nick Martinelli became the first Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring since 2011-12 (John Shurna), averaging 20.5 points per game, the highest scoring average by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7) in 1997-98. Martinelli was named All-Big Ten Second Team. Brooks Barnhizer, who was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and NABC All-District Second Team, posted averages of 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in 17 games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
The 2023-24 team finished with a 22-12 overall record, tied for third in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 mark and won its NCAA Tournament First Round game over FAU 77-65 in overtime. Northwestern placed in the top three of the conference standings in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1958-59 and 1959-60. The Wildcats tied their program record for most Big Ten wins in a season and claimed 24 league victories over the last two seasons, the most over a two year stretch in school history. Lowery helped coach Boo Buie to his second career All-Big Ten First Team selection.
In 2022-23, Under Lowery’s guidance, Northwestern improved its scoring defense by 7.1 points per game from the previous season and ranked third in the Big Ten and 22nd nationally allowing 62.8 points per game. Wildcats’ opponents shot just 41.4 percent from the field, the third-best mark in the conference. The team reached the school’s second NCAA Tournament, posted a 22-12 overall record and recorded a second-place finish in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 league ledger. For the first time since 1958-59, Northwestern finished second in the league standings, while also setting a school record for conference wins in a single-season.
Lowery oversaw the emergence of guard Chase Audige, who became just the second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in program history. Audige finished the season with a league-high 81 steals, the second-most in a single-season in school history, and was a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist.
Prior to arriving in Evanston, Lowery was an assistant coach at Kansas State for 10 seasons and played an instrumental role in one of the best stretches in K-State history, which included 170 wins, two Big 12 regular-season championships (2013 and 2019) and five NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019). The Wildcats’ two conference titles are the second-most by a Big 12 school in that span with the 2012-13 championship the first-ever in the Big 12 era and the first conference title by the school in more than 36 seasons.
Lowery helped K-State post consecutive 25-win campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19 for the first time in school history, as the Wildcats collected a 25-12 overall record and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in eight seasons in 2017-18 before posting a 25-9 mark and earning a second Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19. The school was one of 24 programs nationally, including 15 in power conferences, with 25-win seasons in each of those two seasons.
During his time at K-State, Lowery tutored 14 players that were named to All-Big 12 teams. In addition, he has helped mentor the 2019 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, four Big 12 All-Defensive Team members as well as three players selected to the league’s All-Newcomer Team.
Lowery arrived at K-State after an eight-year stint (2004-12) as the head coach at his alma mater, Southern Illinois, where he posted a 145-116 (.556) record with four postseason appearances, two Missouri Valley Championships and one State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. His teams averaged 18.1 wins over his tenure, including three 20-win seasons, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament on three occasions (2005, 2006, 2007), including a 2007 trip to the Sweet 16. Lowery was twice named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year (2005, 2007).
Lowery coached two AP honorable mention All-Americans at SIU, including Darren Brooks in 2005 and Jamaal Tatum in 2007. In addition, his players earned numerous Missouri Valley honors, including two Players of the Year (Brooks and Tatum), four Defensive Players of the Year (Brooks, Randal Falker, Bryan Mullins twice), two Freshmen of the Year (Mullins and Kevin Dillard) and one Sixth Man Award (Tony Young). He coached 12 all-conference players, including five first-team selections, to go with 10 MVC All-Defensive Team honorees, five All-Freshmen picks and four All-Newcomer and Most Improved Team members.
Lowery began his coaching career at Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois, in 1995, where he helped the Warriors to a 20-win season. He followed with stints at Missouri Southern (1997-2000) and Southeast Missouri State (2000-01) before returning to his alma mater as an assistant helping the Salukis to a 52-15 (.776) record from 2001-03 with back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference titles and consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. He went to Illinois in 2003-04, where he helped the Fighting Illini to a 26-7 overall record and a trip to the Sweet 16. Illinois also captured its first outright Big Ten regular season title in more than 52 years in 2003-04, as Lowery helped coach future NBA players Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Roger Powell and Luther Head.
After his one-year at Illinois, Lowery returned to his alma mater as the 12th head coach at Southern Illinois on April 9, 2004. In his first year, SIU posted a 27-8 record, including a 15-3 mark in MVC play, and Lowery became the youngest coach, at the age 32, to ever win Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors. The Salukis won the MVC regular season crown and beat Saint Mary’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2006-07, he helped SIU to its greatest season in school history, as the team won a school-record 29 games and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2006-07. The squad finished with a No. 11 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and earned its highest NCAA Tournament seed (No. 4).
Lowery was a standout player for legendary Saluki head coach Rich Herrin from 1990-94. Known as a scrappy, hustling player, he helped lead a basketball renaissance at SIU, guiding the Salukis to consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 1993 and 1994. He helped the school to an 86-37 mark during his playing career, including four postseason appearances and two Missouri Valley Conference titles. He scored 1,225 points and dished out 391 assists in his career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the university in 1995.
For his efforts as a player (1991-94), assistant coach (2001-03) and head coach (2004-12), Lowery was inducted into the Southern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame on October 18, 2019. In those three capacities, he was part of 283 wins with a combined seven NCAA Tournaments and eight MVC Championships.
Lowery was a standout player at Harrison High School in Evansville, Indiana, and for those accomplishments, was named to the 2015 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team.
Lowery also has international coaching experience with USA Basketball, serving as an assistant with the U-19 team which won the gold medal at the 2009 World Championships. He coached alongside TCU’s Jamie Dixon and Purdue’s Matt Painter for a squad that included future NBA players Gordon Heyward, Shelvin Mack, Klay Thompson and Kemba Walker.
A native of Evansville, Indiana, Lowery, and his wife, Erika, have three children, Lexis, C.J., and Jazmyn. The couple’s son, Kahari, passed away in November 2016.
During his first season on head coach Chris Collins’ staff in 2022-23, he earned the inaugural Howard Moore Assistant Coach of the Year Award, which is voted on by Big Ten Conference head coaches.
Most recently in 2024-25 the Wildcats posted a KenPom Defensive Adjusted Efficiency (37) inside the Top 50 for the third straight season. Nick Martinelli became the first Wildcat to lead the Big Ten in scoring since 2011-12 (John Shurna), averaging 20.5 points per game, the highest scoring average by a Wildcat since Evan Eschmeyer (21.7) in 1997-98. Martinelli was named All-Big Ten Second Team. Brooks Barnhizer, who was named All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and NABC All-District Second Team, posted averages of 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in 17 games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.
The 2023-24 team finished with a 22-12 overall record, tied for third in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 mark and won its NCAA Tournament First Round game over FAU 77-65 in overtime. Northwestern placed in the top three of the conference standings in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1958-59 and 1959-60. The Wildcats tied their program record for most Big Ten wins in a season and claimed 24 league victories over the last two seasons, the most over a two year stretch in school history. Lowery helped coach Boo Buie to his second career All-Big Ten First Team selection.
In 2022-23, Under Lowery’s guidance, Northwestern improved its scoring defense by 7.1 points per game from the previous season and ranked third in the Big Ten and 22nd nationally allowing 62.8 points per game. Wildcats’ opponents shot just 41.4 percent from the field, the third-best mark in the conference. The team reached the school’s second NCAA Tournament, posted a 22-12 overall record and recorded a second-place finish in the Big Ten Conference standings with a 12-8 league ledger. For the first time since 1958-59, Northwestern finished second in the league standings, while also setting a school record for conference wins in a single-season.
Lowery oversaw the emergence of guard Chase Audige, who became just the second Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in program history. Audige finished the season with a league-high 81 steals, the second-most in a single-season in school history, and was a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist.
Prior to arriving in Evanston, Lowery was an assistant coach at Kansas State for 10 seasons and played an instrumental role in one of the best stretches in K-State history, which included 170 wins, two Big 12 regular-season championships (2013 and 2019) and five NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019). The Wildcats’ two conference titles are the second-most by a Big 12 school in that span with the 2012-13 championship the first-ever in the Big 12 era and the first conference title by the school in more than 36 seasons.
Lowery helped K-State post consecutive 25-win campaigns in 2017-18 and 2018-19 for the first time in school history, as the Wildcats collected a 25-12 overall record and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in eight seasons in 2017-18 before posting a 25-9 mark and earning a second Big 12 regular-season title in 2018-19. The school was one of 24 programs nationally, including 15 in power conferences, with 25-win seasons in each of those two seasons.
During his time at K-State, Lowery tutored 14 players that were named to All-Big 12 teams. In addition, he has helped mentor the 2019 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, four Big 12 All-Defensive Team members as well as three players selected to the league’s All-Newcomer Team.
Lowery arrived at K-State after an eight-year stint (2004-12) as the head coach at his alma mater, Southern Illinois, where he posted a 145-116 (.556) record with four postseason appearances, two Missouri Valley Championships and one State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title. His teams averaged 18.1 wins over his tenure, including three 20-win seasons, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament on three occasions (2005, 2006, 2007), including a 2007 trip to the Sweet 16. Lowery was twice named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year (2005, 2007).
Lowery coached two AP honorable mention All-Americans at SIU, including Darren Brooks in 2005 and Jamaal Tatum in 2007. In addition, his players earned numerous Missouri Valley honors, including two Players of the Year (Brooks and Tatum), four Defensive Players of the Year (Brooks, Randal Falker, Bryan Mullins twice), two Freshmen of the Year (Mullins and Kevin Dillard) and one Sixth Man Award (Tony Young). He coached 12 all-conference players, including five first-team selections, to go with 10 MVC All-Defensive Team honorees, five All-Freshmen picks and four All-Newcomer and Most Improved Team members.
Lowery began his coaching career at Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois, in 1995, where he helped the Warriors to a 20-win season. He followed with stints at Missouri Southern (1997-2000) and Southeast Missouri State (2000-01) before returning to his alma mater as an assistant helping the Salukis to a 52-15 (.776) record from 2001-03 with back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference titles and consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. He went to Illinois in 2003-04, where he helped the Fighting Illini to a 26-7 overall record and a trip to the Sweet 16. Illinois also captured its first outright Big Ten regular season title in more than 52 years in 2003-04, as Lowery helped coach future NBA players Deron Williams, Dee Brown, Roger Powell and Luther Head.
After his one-year at Illinois, Lowery returned to his alma mater as the 12th head coach at Southern Illinois on April 9, 2004. In his first year, SIU posted a 27-8 record, including a 15-3 mark in MVC play, and Lowery became the youngest coach, at the age 32, to ever win Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors. The Salukis won the MVC regular season crown and beat Saint Mary’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 2006-07, he helped SIU to its greatest season in school history, as the team won a school-record 29 games and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2006-07. The squad finished with a No. 11 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and earned its highest NCAA Tournament seed (No. 4).
Lowery was a standout player for legendary Saluki head coach Rich Herrin from 1990-94. Known as a scrappy, hustling player, he helped lead a basketball renaissance at SIU, guiding the Salukis to consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 1993 and 1994. He helped the school to an 86-37 mark during his playing career, including four postseason appearances and two Missouri Valley Conference titles. He scored 1,225 points and dished out 391 assists in his career. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the university in 1995.
For his efforts as a player (1991-94), assistant coach (2001-03) and head coach (2004-12), Lowery was inducted into the Southern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame on October 18, 2019. In those three capacities, he was part of 283 wins with a combined seven NCAA Tournaments and eight MVC Championships.
Lowery was a standout player at Harrison High School in Evansville, Indiana, and for those accomplishments, was named to the 2015 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team.
Lowery also has international coaching experience with USA Basketball, serving as an assistant with the U-19 team which won the gold medal at the 2009 World Championships. He coached alongside TCU’s Jamie Dixon and Purdue’s Matt Painter for a squad that included future NBA players Gordon Heyward, Shelvin Mack, Klay Thompson and Kemba Walker.
A native of Evansville, Indiana, Lowery, and his wife, Erika, have three children, Lexis, C.J., and Jazmyn. The couple’s son, Kahari, passed away in November 2016.