Amanda Knapp
The Kansas City Roos, or the UMKC men's basketball team, have had an interesting history in terms of their division. They started off in the NAIA, where they had several successful seasons, before moving up to the NCAA Division I level in 1987 as an independent team. They then played in the Mid-Continent Conference/Summit League from 1994 to 2013, before switching to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Despite their success in the NAIA and their long history in Division I, the Roos have never actually qualified for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. In 2020, they returned to the Summit League, where they remain today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Kansas City Roos |
| University | University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) |
| Division | NCAA Division I |
| Conference | Summit League |
| Former Conference | Western Athletic Conference (WAC) |
| Head Coach | Billy Donlon |
| Former Coaches | Lee Hunt, Darrell Corwin, Bruce Carrier, Marvin Menzies |
| Notable Players | Martez Harrison |
| Home Court | Swinney Recreation Center |
| Former Home Court | Municipal Auditorium |
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What You'll Learn
- The team's name, the Kansas City Roos, and their former name, the Missouri–Kansas City Kangaroos
- Their history in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
- Their move to the NCAA Division I level in 1987
- Their head coaches, including Billy Donlon and Marvin Menzies
- Their home games at the Swinney Recreation Center
The team's name, the Kansas City Roos, and their former name, the Missouri–Kansas City Kangaroos
The Kansas City Roos is the name of the University of Missouri–Kansas City's athletic teams. The team's former name was the Missouri–Kansas City Kangaroos, or UMKC for short. The nickname "Kangaroos" was chosen in the 1930s for the school's debate team after the Kansas City Zoo acquired two baby kangaroos.
In June 2019, the university unveiled a new logo and branding strategy emphasizing "Kansas City", and officially changed its name to the Kansas City Roos on July 1, 2019. The program is now known as Kansas City Athletics, with "Roos" being the short form of their historic nickname. The change in name coincided with the team's return to the Summit League, as their previous conference, the WAC, used the name "UMKC".
The men's basketball team has had success in both the NAIA and NCAA Division I. They moved to the NCAA Division I level in 1987 as an independent and have played in the Mid-Continent Conference/Summit League and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The team has had notable coaches such as Billy Donlon, who was hired in 2019, and Lee Hunt, under whom they enjoyed three consecutive winning seasons from 1991 to 1993.
The Kansas City Roos continue to represent the University of Missouri–Kansas City in various sports, including men's basketball, and their name change and rebranding strategy have emphasized their connection to the city.
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Their history in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
The Kansas City Roos men's basketball team, formerly known as the Kangaroos, has a rich history in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The team represented the University of Missouri–Kansas City, starting in the NAIA before transitioning to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level in 1987 as an independent team.
During their time in the NAIA, the Kangaroos were a dominant force, boasting 10 winning seasons and four 20-win seasons in an 18-year period. They developed rivalries with local Kansas City teams such as Rockhurst and William Jewell. The 1977 season stands out as their only NAIA Tournament appearance, and they finished with an impressive 21-7 record.
Darrell Corwin was at the helm of the team as head coach from 1973 to 1980, guiding the Kangaroos to numerous successes and establishing himself as the all-time winningest coach in program history with a remarkable 118-78 record. Bruce Carrier continued the winning tradition as head coach from 1983 to 1985, achieving the best winning percentage in program history at .694 with a 50-22 record.
The 1984-85 season was historic for the Kangaroos as they achieved their best season record of 27-9. During this time in the NAIA, the team laid the foundation for their future success and established themselves as a competitive force in collegiate basketball.
The women's basketball team, also known as the Roos, represented the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the NAIA from 1980 to 1987. During this period, they compiled an impressive 159-48 record, finishing 3rd in 1983 and 5th in 1985. The women's team appeared in two NAIA tournaments, showcasing their talent and leaving their mark in the history of NAIA basketball.
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Their move to the NCAA Division I level in 1987
The University of Missouri–Kansas City's men's basketball team, the Kansas City Roos, moved to the NCAA Division I level in 1987 as an independent, non-member of a conference. They were led by head coach Lee Hunt, who was hired in the autumn of 1986 to oversee the transition from the NAIA to the NCAA.
Before their move to Division I, the Kangaroos were a formidable NAIA program, achieving 10 winning seasons and four 20-win seasons in an 18-year stretch. They had rivalries with local Kansas City teams such as Rockhurst and William Jewell. In the 1984-85 season, they finished with a program-best record of 27-9.
In their first season at the Division I level (1987-88), the Kangaroos played their home games off-campus at the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. This venue has hosted the most NCAA Division I men's basketball Final Fours. The team did not compete during the 1986-87 season, with their last season in the NAIA being 1985-86, where they ended with a record of 19-15 and no postseason involvement.
Following their transition to Division I, the Kangaroos enjoyed three consecutive winning seasons from 1991 to 1993. In the 1991-92 season, they achieved a program-best record of 21-7 and won the River City Classic. Hunt retired two seasons after the Kangaroos joined the Mid-Continent Conference/Summit League in 1994. He holds the best winning record in the program's Division I history.
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Their head coaches, including Billy Donlon and Marvin Menzies
The Kansas City Roos, representing the University of Missouri–Kansas City, play in Division I of the NCAA.
Billy Donlon
Billy Donlon was the head coach of the Kansas City Roos men's basketball team for three seasons, from 2019 until 2022. In his first season, the Roos went 16–14, 8–7 WAC, and came fourth in the WAC. They were The Islands of the Bahamas Showcase runner-up. In his three seasons as coach, Donlon compiled a 46-39 record, going 27-20 in conference play. Donlon was previously a head coach for six seasons at Wright State University, where he went 109-94. He played college basketball at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington.
Marvin Menzies
Marvin Menzies was announced as the Roos' eighth head coach on April 26, 2022. He replaced Donlon, and entered his third season in 2025. Menzies has 12 years of head coaching experience, including a nine-year run at New Mexico State and a three-year tenure at UNLV. During his time at NMSU, his teams won the WAC regular season title three times and took the postseason crown five times, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Menzies has an overall coaching record of 246-159. He previously served as an assistant at Sacramento State, San Diego State, Southern California, UNLV, and Louisville.
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Their home games at the Swinney Recreation Center
The Kansas City Roos men's basketball team, representing the University of Missouri–Kansas City, plays its home games at the Swinney Recreation Center. The team moved back to the on-campus Swinney Recreation Center in 2019 after playing at various Kansas City home courts over the years, including Municipal Auditorium, Kemper Arena, Hale Arena, and the Independence Events Center.
The Swinney Recreation Center, originally built in 1941 as Swinney Gymnasium, is located at the top of a hill, adjacent to the Atterbury Student Success Center. It was renamed after a $14.5 million addition in 1988 and now features a fitness centre, five multipurpose basketball courts, several group fitness studios, racquetball and squash courts, indoor and outdoor tracks, a recreational field, and a large aquatics centre with a 25-yard pool. The facility can accommodate up to 1,600 fans for basketball games, with a yellow court featuring a blue silhouette of the KC skyline.
The recreation centre offers memberships for UMKC students, faculty, staff, and community members. It is also home to the UMKC men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the volleyball team. The men's basketball team previously played at Swinney from 1969 to 1986 and again from 2010 to 2012 before returning in 2019. The women's basketball team also currently plays its home games at the Swinney Recreation Center.
The top floor of the Swinney Recreation Center features interactive hoops stations, while the basement houses the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Tickets for games are reasonably priced at $18 for adults and $16 for children. The intimate setting ensures that there are no bad seats, with the top row being just 12 rows above the court. The designated Rowdy Roo student section is located in the corner of the east stands, and the KC Roo mascot, cheerleaders, and dance teams contribute to the lively atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
The UMKC basketball team, also known as the Kansas City Roos, plays in Division I of the NCAA.
The team moved to Division I in 1987 as an independent.
The Kansas City Roos returned to the Summit League in 2020 after seven seasons in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
No, the Roos have never played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. However, they did make their first NCAA Division I postseason appearance in 2017 when they defeated Green Bay 92-82 in the first round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).
