Heading to the Dance with Seth Tuttle

UNI Assistant Coach

(St. Louis, MO) – When Northern Iowa basketball fans hear the Panthers’ name called on Selection Sunday they will know where they’re heading to the dance with Seth Tuttle. He’s one UNI’s all-time great players and current assistant coach and he’s helping to Panther squad prepare.

Tuttle is UNI’s fifth leading all-time scorer (1,747) who made over 60 percent of his field goal attempts and collected over 900 rebounds. His 2015 season was magical. The 6’8 post player was named to multiple all-American teams and the Panthers (31-4) won the Missouri Valley Conference postseason tournament.

They went to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Wyoming before losing to Louisville in the round of 32. At one point, that team was ranked tenth in the nation.

Some of those same teammates led UNI back to the dance in 2016, the year after Tuttle graduated and this is UNI’s first trip to March Madness since the Wes Washpun magic sent them there in 2016.

After playing professionally overseas, Tuttle returned to UNI as a graduate assistant, moved up to video coordinator and then to his current assistant coach role.

Tuttle remembers his playing career fondly and says his team was loaded with players that eventually turned pro.

 

After experiencing an Arch Madness title as a player and now as a coach, he says the joy is the same, but nerves and anxiety are totally different. He notes the joy that comes from all the hard work is amazing and taking the time to celebrate with fans and families is important too.

 

Heading to the Dance

The success of this year’s team actually began with late-season success last year. Eleven players chose to return to play another season in Cedar Falls after seeing how good they could be late last year. He notes, that head coach Ben Jacobson is a ‘players’ coach’.

 

Two-time all-conference performer Trey Campbell received the Doug Elgin, Most Outstanding Player Award at the Arch Madness tournament. During his four seasons at UNI, Campbell has won numerous awards, posted outstanding career statistics and now is heading to the dance.

He is the unquestioned leader of this year’s team and Tuttle says the four-year Panther is always consistent.

 

When we spoke (3/12) the Panthers were over a week away from playing their next game. Tuttle says the coaching staff gave the players some time off to celebrate and rest after the great and historic Arch Madness championship. Now, he says, it is time to get back to an aggressive mindset and to get hungry all over again.

Heading to the Dance – 2026

Sunday night the Panther faithful will find out where and whom they play. Bracketologists have them seeded anywhere from a twelfth seed to a fourteenth. They will be an underdog to whomever they play.

Jacobson has taken four previous teams to the NCAA Tournament. On three of those occasions they won their first game. UNI’s 2010 team reached the Sweet Sixteen. The 2016 team was an overtime loss to Texas A&M away from reaching that level again.

Ben Jacobson knows how to win games in March.

UNI is heading to the dance and assistant coach Seth Tuttle his helping his players prepare for the madness

Head to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts to listen to our full interview with Seth Tuttle.

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Editor: Cover photo, courtesy of unipanthers.com.