Bio

Todd Lorensen completed his third season as head coach of the Graceland University Yellowjackets men's basketball program in March of 2025, taking the team to its second appearance all-time in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament and the first since Graceland won the national championship in 2018.

The 2024-2025 season under Lorensen’s direction marked another leap forward for the Yellowjackets, who opened the campaign with an impressive 10-0 start and sustained that momentum throughout the year to finish with a 24-8 overall record and an 18-6 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The program’s resurgence culminated in its second-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance, and first since winning the national title in 2018.

Graceland was one of the most consistent and well-rounded teams in the Heart Conference, finishing second in the league standings and earning a reputation for efficiency and toughness. Offensively, the Yellowjackets shot 47.2% from the field, 35.0% from three-point range, and 71.0% from the free-throw line, averaging 76.7 points per game. Defensively, they limited opponents to just 70.0 points per contest and out-rebounded teams by an average of +3.7 boards per game.

The team was especially dominant at home, finishing 16-1 inside Closson Center, where they averaged 81.1 points per game and shot a blistering 50.0% from the field. Graceland also excelled in ball movement and offensive execution, averaging 14.0 assists per game with an offensive efficiency rating of 1.080 — among the best in the conference.

Several players played key roles in the team’s postseason push. Cole Bowen delivered a standout season, leading the team with 509 points while shooting 55.4% from the field and collecting 267 rebounds, good for a team-high 9.2 per game. Carter Brown emerged as one of the Heart’s premier shooters, connecting on 83 three-pointers at a 39.7% clip, while averaging over 10 points per contest. Darrius Davis was a consistent presence on both ends of the floor, totaling 306 points on 52.3% shooting, along with 168 rebounds and 63 assists.

Supporting contributions came from a deep and balanced rotation. Carson Busch added 275 points, 78 assists, and a team-best 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio, while Maijhe Wiley knocked down 51 triples and averaged 10.1 points per game. Micah Lamberth, JY Smith, and Kevin Cook all provided valuable minutes in both starting and reserve roles throughout the season.

The Yellowjackets reached as high as No. 2 in conference offensive efficiency (1.108 in league play) and outscored opponents by an average margin of +6.7 points per game in wins. Though the season ended with a road loss in the national tournament to Northwestern (Iowa), the foundation built under Lorensen has Graceland firmly established as a contender on the national stage.

The 2023-2024 season under Lorensen's leadership was a continuation of the upward trend, as the Yellowjackets posted a 21-9 overall record and 17-7 in conference play. The team averaged 79.6 points per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Graceland’s balanced attack was highlighted by standout performances from seniors Austin Braun and Aleksa Markovic, who combined for over 800 points on the season. Lorensen guided the team to a top-four finish in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart), setting the stage for future success.

Building on that foundation, the 2024-2025 season saw the Yellowjackets take a major step forward, finishing with a 24-8 overall record and an 18-6 conference mark, securing the program’s second-ever NAIA National Tournament appearance in the university’s 129-year history. Graceland was one of the top teams in the Heart Conference, finishing second in the standings while continuing to improve across multiple statistical categories. The team shot 47.2% from the field, 35.0% from three-point range, and averaged 76.7 points per game, all improvements from the previous season.

Graceland dominated at home, posting a 16-1 record at Closson Center, making it one of the toughest venues in the conference. The team also showed strong defensive and rebounding prowess, posting a +3.7 rebounding margin per game while holding opponents to just 70.0 points per contest.

“Having the opportunity to lead the Graceland men’s basketball program has been an incredible experience,” Lorensen said. “I’m proud of how our guys have bought into our system, and their dedication has been evident in the strides we’ve made over the last two seasons. Earning a national tournament bid is a testament to their hard work, but we aren’t satisfied. Our goal is to continue elevating this program and competing for championships every year.”

Several standout individual performances contributed to Graceland’s national tournament run. Cole Bowen led the team with 509 points, shooting 55.4% from the field, while Carter Brown emerged as one of the league’s premier perimeter shooters, hitting 83 three-pointers at a 39.7% clip. Senior Darrius Davis was another key contributor, scoring 306 points on 52.3% shooting, giving the Yellowjackets one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the conference.

Lorensen has a proven track record of orchestrating turnarounds, both as an assistant and head coach throughout his career. During two years at the helm of Mount Marty University, Lorensen and his staff took a dormant program to new heights with a 20-win season in 2019-2020, making GPAC history as the first 8-seed to reach the championship game of the postseason tournament in 2020-2021. The three GPAC postseason wins in two years were the only postseason GPAC wins in the program’s three-decade history.

Three consecutive wins over NAIA top-20 programs, capped off with a 106-98 road win over No. 6 Dakota Wesleyan, propelled the team to national attention. The 2019-2020 team spent 10 consecutive weeks in the NAIA top 25, with six wins over ranked opponents. That success continued as the Lancers qualified for the GPAC tournament for the first time in eight seasons and secured their first postseason win since 2006.

Lorensen's teams have consistently featured top-tier offensive play. At Mount Marty, the 2019-2020 squad ranked:

• No. 2 in 3-point FG made per game (13.2)
• No. 2 in total 3-point FG made (423), setting a new school record
• No. 4 in turnover margin (5.6), also a new school record
• No. 5 in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.62)
• No. 14 in total scoring (2,730 points), setting another school record

Individual highlights included Chris King setting a school record for 3-point FG made in a season (100) and Colby Johnson ranking 12th in the nation in 3-point percentage (47.3%).

Prior to joining Graceland, Lorensen served as head coach at Buena Vista University and as head coach and Director of Athletics at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa. At Southwestern, Lorensen inherited a struggling program but quickly transformed it, posting a school-record 25 wins in his second season. In his third season, he led the Spartans to a 36-1 overall record and an NJCAA Division II national title in 2016-2017. His remarkable season earned him multiple coaching honors, including:

• NJCAA DII National Coach of the Year
• NABC National Junior College Coach of the Year
• HoopDirt.com NJCAA Coach of the Year
• ICCAC Coach of the Year

In addition, Lorensen was selected as the head coach for the NJCAA All-Star Game and has presented at Nike coaching clinics alongside legends like Bobby Knight and Bo Ryan. During his four seasons at Southwestern, Lorensen posted a 113-25 overall record, after the program had won just 39% of its games over the previous five seasons. He also led the Spartans to back-to-back conference titles in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

Prior to Southwestern, Lorensen spent a season as head coach at Iowa Wesleyan University and served as an assistant coach at Truman State University, the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Grand View University. A Monroe, Iowa, native, Lorensen comes from a coaching family—his father is currently the head coach at PCM High School with over 600 career victories, placing him among the top active coaches in Iowa.

Lorensen played basketball collegiately at Quincy University and Grand View University, and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and a master's degree in business administration from Bellevue University.

Career Highlights

• 2007–2008: Assistant Coach, Grand View University
• 2008–2011: Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska-Omaha
• 2011–2013: Assistant Coach, Truman State University
• 2013–2014: Head Coach, Iowa Wesleyan University (6-19)
• 2014–2018: Head Coach, Southwestern Community College (113-25, 2017 NJCAA National Champions)
• 2018–2019: Head Coach, Buena Vista University (11-14)
• 2019–2021: Head Coach, Mount Marty University (31-29)
• 2022–2023: Assistant Coach, Graceland University
• 2023–present: Head Coach, Graceland University (45-17, NAIA National Tournament in 2025)

What Others Are Saying About Todd Lorensen

Craig Doty, Head Coach, Houston Christian (Graceland National Champion Men's Basketball Coach 2016–2018):
"Todd is a national-level coach who has the proven ability to create teams and cultures that consistently compete at a high level. Graceland means a lot to my family and me. We couldn't be more excited that Todd will be the next head men's basketball coach of the Yellowjackets!"

Matt Woodley, Wake Forest University:
"Todd was one of the best assistants I've ever had. His attention to detail and tireless work ethic were a huge reason for our turnaround at Truman State. He prioritizes relationships with players and everyone around campus. Graceland is in great hands and poised to be a consistent winner under his leadership."

Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Drake University:
"I've known Todd for many years. His basketball mind and his care for the athletes he coaches will put Graceland back on the national stage. Fantastic hire for their athletic department."