Jeff Berkhof has been a mainstay of the Falcon men's basketball program as a player, assistant coach, and now in his 20th season as the head coach in 2025-26. He follows only his predecessor, Rick Bowen, in coaching victories at UW-River Falls with a 244-236 career record, and is tied with Bowen as the longest-tenured men's basketball head coach in UWRF history.
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During his tenure, Berkhof has brought the Falcons to the forefront of Division III basketball and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Falcons have made three NCAA Tournament appearances, won a pair of WIAC Tournament Championships (2012, 2017), and have appeared in the WIAC Championship game in six out of the last 15 years.
A three-time WIAC Coach of the Year (2011, 2015, 2017), Berkhof was also named the NABC’s Central Region Coach of the Year, and Wisconsin’s Division III Coach of the Year by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association following the 2016-17 season.Â
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The 2017-18 season was the inaugural season in Page Arena and the Falcons went 12-2 at home while finishing the season with a 18-9 overall record. The Falcons made a late season run in the WIAC tournament knocking off No. 5 seed UW-Whitewater and top-seeded UW-Platteville to advance to the WIAC Tournament Championship game before being knocked off by No. 2 seed UW-Stevens Point 59-44.Â
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During the 2016-17 season, the Falcons enjoyed won of the best seasons in program history with a 25-4 record. The Falcons claimed the WIAC regular season title and posted a 17-game winning streak, the longest in UWRF men’s basketball history. The Falcons also went on to win the WIAC Tournament Championship with a 60-59 win over UW-Oshkosh, the second in program history. The Falcons hosted the first and second round games of the NCAA Tournament at the Karges Center, claiming a thrilling double-overtime victory over Bethel Univeristy before falling short to Wartburg College in the second round.
The Falcons started their climb in the WIAC with the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. The Falcons appeared in back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and posted 20-8 seasons. In 2011-12 the Falcons won their first WIAC Tournament title with a 64-58 win at UW-Whitewater. In 2010-11, the Falcons put together a 15-game winning streak and earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, and Berkhof was named the WIAC Coach of the Year.Â
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Berkhof played two seasons for the Falcons from 1992-94 and was selected all-conference following the 1993-94 season. Berkhof spent two seasons at Worthington Community College and was named to the Minnesota Junior College Hall of Fame in 1998. Berkhof started his college career at South Dakota State University and was a member of the Jackrabbit football squad in 1989.
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Jeff and his wife, Jill, a UW-River Falls alumna reside in Hudson, Wis. Their son Benjamin attends Minnesota State University-Mankato, and is a member of the Maverick baseball team.
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| Year |
W-L |
Pct. |
WIACÂ W-L |
Place |
Pct. |
| 2025 |
9-16 |
.360 |
3-11 |
8th |
.214 |
| 2024 |
15-12 |
.556 |
8-6 |
2nd |
.571 |
| 2023 |
11-15 |
.423 |
5-9 |
6th |
.357 |
| 2022 |
14-10 |
.583 |
6-7 |
6th |
.462 |
| 2021 |
5-4 |
.556 |
4-3 |
2nd* |
.571 |
| 2020 |
12-14 |
.462 |
5-9 |
6th |
.357 |
| 2019 |
11-14 |
.440 |
4-10 |
7th |
.286 |
| 2018 |
18-9 |
.667 |
7-7 |
4th |
.500 |
| 2017 |
25-4 |
.862 |
12-2 |
1st |
.857 |
| 2016 |
17-11 |
.607 |
9-5 |
2nd |
.643 |
| 2015 |
12-14 |
.462 |
10-6 |
3rd |
.625 |
| 2014 |
8-17 |
.320 |
3-13 |
8th |
.188 |
| 2013 |
8-17 |
.320 |
3-13 |
8th |
.188 |
| 2012 |
20-8 |
.714 |
12-4 |
2nd |
.750 |
| 2011 |
20-8 |
.714 |
12-4 |
2nd |
.750 |
| 2010 |
9-16 |
.360 |
3-13 |
9th |
.187 |
| 2009 |
11-15 |
.425 |
5-11 |
6th |
.312 |
| 2008 |
9-16 |
.360 |
3-13 |
9th |
.187 |
| 2007 |
10-16 |
.384 |
5-11 |
6th |
.312 |
| Totals |
244-236 |
.508 |
119-155 |
|
.434 |
*2020-21 WIACÂ standings were split into east/west divisions.
