Niven joined SHC as the Badger head coach in 2013 after spending the previous six seasons as the assistant basketball coach at John Brown University (JBU) in Siloam Springs, Ark., where he helped build the JBU men's program into one of the top programs in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC). During his time at JBU, Niven was instrumental in signing six SAC All-Conference selections, two SAC Freshman of the Year winners, a 2nd team NAIA All-America selection, three NAIA honorable mention All-America winners and a Capital One Academic All-America Award recipient.

During the 2012-2013 season, Niven helped John Brown achieve its highest ranking (No. 3) in program history and notched a program-record 28 victories as the Golden Eagles captured their first-ever SAC regular season championship. The 2013 JBU senior class compiled a 100-35 (.741) career record – the highest four-year win total in program history. Under Golden Eagles head coach Clark Sheehy, Niven built a 133-66 (.668) cumulative record.

Prior to his time at John Brown, Niven served the men's assistant basketball coach at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) in Magnolia, Ark., from 2000-2007 where he signed All-Gulf South Conference (GSC) performers Kenny Langhorne and Brandon Williams.

Before SAU, Niven spent two years (1998-2000) working as men's assistant coach at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) under former head men's basketball coach of the University of Nebraska Doc Sadler. While at the UAFS, Niven helped recruit seven players that went on to receive NCAA Division I scholarships. He also helped lead the Lions to a Bi-State Conference championship in 1999-2000.

Niven, a native of Rogers, Ark., played two seasons at Arkansas Tech where he was part of an NAIA Final Four team during the 1994-1995 season. He then transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1998 before completing his Masters of Education in 2000. He is a third generation head coach, following in the footsteps of his father Bill Niven, head coach of girls' basketball at Decatur High School (Ark.).

Niven and his wife, Shannon, have a daughter, Madalyn, and two sons, Will and Boston.

Niven's Career Record

2013-14: 7-22 (6-13 SSAC)
2014-15: 10-18 (9-10 SIAC)
2015-16: 9-19 (7-11 SIAC)
2016-17: 10-18 (9-8 SIAC)
2017-18:  12-16 (9-10 SIAC)

Totals (5 Seasons): 48-93 Overall (40-52 Conference)