Northwest Nazarene University Athletics

Biography

Jon Hawkins begins his fourth season as head coach of NNU men's basketball in 2026-27.

Hawkins has experienced tremendous success in his first three seasons at the helm, posting a 55-29 (.655) overall record and a 38-16 (.704) GNAC record. His teams have finished second in the GNAC regular-season standings in two of his first three seasons, including a tie for second in 2025-26.

Under Hawkins' direction, the Nighthawks have reached the NCAA Tournament in two of his first three seasons as head coach, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2024-25 and 2025-26—the first time in program history NNU has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons. Hawkins was the fastest coach to 50 wins in NNU history and led the Nighthawks to the No. 6 seed in the 2025-26 NCAA West Regional, the highest seed in program history.

Hawkins led the Nighthawks to another successful season in 2025-26, finishing tied for second in the GNAC regular-season standings before falling to third following a tiebreaker. NNU earned a berth in the NCAA West Regional for the second consecutive season. Hawkins coached Easton Reagan, who led the GNAC in scoring during the 2025-26 season and earned All-Region honors. Garrett Hawkes and Jaden Byers also earned Second Team All-GNAC and Honorable Mention All-GNAC honors, respectively.

Hawkins led the Nighthawks to one of the best seasons in program history during the 2024-25 campaign, opening the season with the best start in program history at 11-1 and tying the program record for wins in a season with 20 (20-8 overall). NNU earned an at-large berth in the NCAA West Regional, marking the first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in program history. The Nighthawks were incredibly tough at home, going 14-1 overall and 9-0 in conference play at the Johnson Sports Center. Kye Dickson led the GNAC in scoring and was named GNAC Newcomer of the Year and a consensus All-Region selection. Hawkins also coached three other players who earned Honorable Mention All-GNAC honors: Biggie Bergersen, Briggs Ranstrom and Yaru Harvey, who was also named GNAC Defensive Player of the Year.

During the 2023-24 season, Hawkins led the Nighthawks to a 17-10 overall record and a second-place finish in the GNAC at 13-5, the best conference record since NNU joined NCAA Division II. NNU defeated nationally ranked Saint Martin's twice and handed GNAC regular-season champion Montana State Billings its only home loss in conference play. Hawkins also coached three players who earned All-GNAC honors.

After eight seasons as an assistant coach, Jon Hawkins was named the 19th head men's basketball coach in Northwest Nazarene history in the summer of 2023. During his eight seasons as a coach dating back to the 2015-16 season, the Nighthawks compiled an overall record of 108-93, including a 75-48 mark over the final five seasons. The Nighthawks were especially tough at home, going 50-19 (.725) in games played at the Johnson Sports Center during that stretch.

During his time as an assistant and associate head coach, Hawkins helped lead the Nighthawks to two NCAA Tournament appearances. The 2020-21 team advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16, while the 2022-23 team won the GNAC Championship and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. In 2020, Hawkins was named to the Silver Waves Media 50 Impactful NCAA Division II Assistant Coaches list.

In two seasons as a student-athlete at NNU, Hawkins averaged 11.2 points per game, dished out 182 assists and led all NCAA Division II players with a 94.1 free-throw percentage during the 2012-13 season.

Before rejoining the NNU family in 2015, Hawkins played in the Gold Coast's Intensity Super League, one of the top summer leagues in Australia. He then toured with Athletes in Action to Israel after playing half a season in the top league in Latvia for Jurmalas-Fenikss.

Hawkins and his wife, Savanah, live in Nampa with their three children.

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