Xavier Kurth

Xavier Kurth is in his first season as the director of player development for the University of Iowa men's basketball program.   

Kurth coached under Iowa head coach Ben McCollum at both Drake and Northwest Missouri State.  He also played for McCollum with the Bearcats.  

The Saint Joseph, Missouri, native spent the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach/director of player development at Drake.  He helped the Bulldogs achieve unprecedented success as the team racked up a school-record 31 victories and claimed both the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles.  The Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after defeating sixth-seeded Missouri, 67-57, in the Round of 64. 

Kurth assisted in Drake’s complete roster rebuild, as the Bulldogs brought in a combined 10 transfers and first-year players.  One of the signees – Bennett Stirtz – was named the MVC Larry Bird Player and Newcomer of the Year, while being a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award and Lou Henson Awards.

Kurth served as a part-time assistant coach at Northwest from 2018-22 before being elevated to a full-time role from 2022-24.  He helped the program capture three NCAA Division II National Championships and compile a 191-16 record during his tenure on staff.

As a player, Kurth suited up for the Bearcats from 2014-18, helping the program capture its first NCAA title during his junior season when the team posted a 35-1 overall record.  Northwest won a total of 114 games during his four years.

Kurth earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Northwest Missouri State in 2018 and his master’s in applied health sciences from the school in 2020.