Ayrton Oneill
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has had a rich history, with notable successes and challenges. The team is part of the University of Iowa's athletics department and has represented the university in the NBA championships, with former players winning 13 world championships. The team has had notable coaches such as Sam Barry, who led them to their first Big Ten championship in 1923, and Rollie Williams, who coached on two separate occasions. The Iowa Hawkeyes have had their fair share of talented players, including Luka Garza, who led the nationally-ranked Hawkeyes in 2020 and 2021 and broke the university's single-season scoring record. The team has had multiple appearances in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments, advancing to the Final Four on three occasions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Gender | Men's |
| University | University of Iowa |
| Coach | Sam Barry (1922) |
| Wins | 13-2 (1923) |
| Championship Wins | 3 Big Ten Championships (1923, 1926, 1945) |
| Other Achievements | 8 National Invitation Tournament appearances, 8 Big Ten regular-season conference championships, 3 Big Ten tournament wins, 29 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament appearances, 3 Final Four appearances (semifinals in 1955 and 1980, championship game in 1956) |
| Notable Players | Nile Kinnick, Rollie Williams |
| Notable Coaches | Sam Barry, Rollie Williams, Lute Olson, Tom Davis, Fran McCaffery |
| Venue | Carver-Hawkeye Arena (capacity: 15,400) |
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What You'll Learn
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team
The Hawkeye men's basketball team has called several venues home over the years. They began playing in Close Hall from 1902 to 1905, followed by the first Iowa Armory from 1905 to 1922. The team now plays in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, a 15,400-seat venue also shared by the Iowa women's basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams.
The Iowa Hawkeyes have had numerous successful seasons and notable coaches throughout their history. From 1902 to 1923, the best conference play finish was fifth place, achieved three times. In 1922, Sam Barry was hired as Iowa's 10th head coach, and in his first season, the team went 13-2 overall and won the Big Ten championship, a first for the school. Barry also led the team to a shared Big Ten championship in 1926.
Rollie Williams, who coached Iowa from 1929 to 1942 and again in 1951, had a winning percentage of 51.5%, making him the winningest coach in Iowa history at that time. Nile Kinnick, the 1939 Heisman Trophy winner for Iowa Hawkeyes football, also played basketball for the team in the 1937-38 season. Pops Harrison led the Hawkeyes to their third Big Ten title in 1945, their first unshared championship.
The Hawkeyes have had eight National Invitation Tournament appearances, eight Big Ten regular-season conference championships, and three Big Ten tournament wins. They have played in 29 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments, reaching the Final Four three times, including the 1956 championship game. The team has also seen a resurgence in recent years, with a marked uptick in attendance and success in the early 2010s.
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The team's NBA representation
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team is part of the athletics department at the University of Iowa. The team has had a number of notable players and coaches who have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA.
One of the most notable players in the team's history is Don Nelson, a two-time All-American at Iowa, who played for the Hawkeyes from 1959 to 1962. Nelson was a five-time NBA Champion and Coach and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. John Johnson and Fred Brown, who played for the Hawkeyes as part of the "Six-Pack" team, also went on to have long and successful NBA careers. Johnson was the seventh overall pick in the 1970 NBA draft, selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Hawkeyes have had eight National Invitation Tournament appearances and have won eight Big Ten regular-season conference championships and three Big Ten tournaments. They have played in 29 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments, reaching the Final Four three times, including the 1956 championship game against the University of San Francisco.
The team has had several notable coaches as well. Sam Barry, who coached the team to its first Big Ten championship in 1923, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. Lute Olson, who led the Hawkeyes to their last Big Ten regular-season championship and the 1980 Final Four, was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
In addition to these notable figures, the Iowa Hawkeyes have had a significant presence in the NBA, with 53 former players selected in the NBA Draft since 1947. The team's success in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, along with its strong showing in various tournaments, showcases the program's overall strength and the talent it has contributed to the NBA.
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Iowa's basketball fortunes
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has had its fair share of fortunes and misfortunes over the years. The team is part of the University of Iowa's athletics department and has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century.
In the early days of Iowa basketball, the team struggled to find success. From 1902 to 1923, the best they could manage was a fifth-place finish in conference play on three separate occasions. However, things started to turn around in 1922 with the hiring of Sam Barry as the head coach. In his first season, Iowa went 13-2 overall and won the Big Ten championship, marking the first time in the school's history. Barry's success continued, and he led the team to another Big Ten championship in 1926, sharing the title with Indiana, Michigan, and Purdue.
The Hawkeyes experienced a resurgence in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s under the leadership of coaches like Lute Olson, George Raveling, and Tom Davis. During this period, the team won their last Big Ten regular-season championship and advanced to the Final Four in 1980. Overall, Iowa has had eight National Invitation Tournament appearances, won eight Big Ten regular-season conference championships, and won the Big Ten tournament three times. They have also advanced to the Final Four three times, playing in the championship game in 1956.
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The team's coaches
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has had several notable coaches throughout its history, with twenty-three individuals serving as head coach. Here is a look at some of the most prominent coaches:
Sam Barry
Sam Barry was hired as Iowa's 10th head coach in 1922. In his first season, Iowa went 13-2 overall and won the Big Ten championship, the first in school history. Barry also led the team to a shared Big Ten championship in 1926. He authored a handbook on basketball, titled "Basketball: Individual Play and Team Play", before continuing his career at USC in 1929. Barry was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Rollie Williams
Following Sam Barry, Rollie Williams took over as head coach from 1929 to 1942 and for a second stint in 1951. Williams had a winning percentage of 51.5% and held the record for the most wins in Iowa history until he was surpassed by later coaches. During his tenure, Iowa's teams were suspended from the Big Ten for violating conference rules, but they were eventually reinstated.
Lute Olson
Lute Olson is one of the most celebrated coaches in Iowa basketball history, leading the Hawkeyes to their last Big Ten regular-season championship and a Final Four appearance in 1980. Olson was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.
George Raveling
George Raveling is another Hall of Fame coach who guided the Iowa Hawkeyes during their successful period in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Fran McCaffery
Fran McCaffery served as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2010 to 2025, reaching the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in seven of his 15 seasons. McCaffery led Iowa to notable wins over ranked opponents, including Purdue, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. He also signed a top recruit, Jarrod Uthoff, and guided the team to a successful non-conference record. McCaffery is actively involved in community initiatives such as Coaches vs. Cancer in the Capital Region.
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The team's players
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has a rich history, with notable players and coaches who have contributed to their success over the years.
One of the most well-known players in the team's history is Nile Kinnick, who also won the 1939 Heisman Trophy for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. Kinnick played basketball for Iowa in the 1937-38 season as a sophomore, finishing second on the team and 15th in Big Ten scoring with 75 total points, averaging 6.3 points per game.
Another notable figure in the team's history is Coach Rollie Williams, who led the team on two separate occasions, first from 1929 to 1942, and then again in 1951. Williams had a winning percentage of 51.5% and a long tenure with the team, becoming the winningest coach in Iowa history until he was surpassed by later coaches Lute Olson, Tom Davis, and Fran McCaffery.
The Hawkeyes men's basketball team has also benefited from the leadership of Sam Barry, their 10th head coach hired in 1922. In his first season, Barry led the team to a 13-2 record and their first Big Ten championship in school history. Barry also authored a handbook on basketball, titled "Basketball: Individual Play and Team Play", which featured Iowa players and facilities. For his contributions to the sport, Barry was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Under the guidance of Coach Lute Olson, the Hawkeyes experienced a program resurgence in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, along with the tenures of George Raveling and Tom Davis. During this period, the team won their last Big Ten regular-season championship and advanced to the Final Four in 1980.
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Frequently asked questions
The Iowa Hawkeyes.
53 former players.
They have won 8 Big Ten regular-season conference championships.
Luka Garza.
