Saoirse Downs
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane basketball team has a rich history of success, including NIT championships in 1981 and 2001, an Elite Eight appearance in 2000, and 14 trips to the NCAA tournament. Tulsa currently plays in the American Athletic Conference (AAC or The American), having joined in 2014. Prior to this, Tulsa was a member of Conference USA from 2005 to 2014, the Western Athletic Conference from 1996 to 2004, and the Missouri Valley Conference from 1935 to 1996.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Tulsa Golden Hurricane |
| Conference | American Athletic Conference (The American) |
| Nickname | Golden Hurricane |
| Colours | Old Gold, Royal Blue & Crimson |
| Head Coach | Eric Konkol |
| Previous Conference | Conference USA |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Tulsa Golden Hurricane's conference history
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane basketball team has a rich history, with several conference moves and a plethora of coaching changes. The team currently plays in the American Athletic Conference (AAC or The American), a Division I conference, and has enjoyed success in recent years.
Prior to 1935, Tulsa was a member of several different conferences. In 1935, the Golden Hurricane joined the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), where they remained until 1996. During their time in the MVC, Tulsa experienced some notable successes, including their first conference title in 1955 under head coach Clarence Iba, who is credited with springboarding the team to success. Iba's 1953 team reached the post-season for the first time in the NIT tournament.
In 1996, Tulsa left the MVC and joined the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), where they competed until 2005. During this time, Tulsa continued to build on their basketball success, making several appearances in the NCAA Tournament and NIT tournaments. In 2000, Tulsa advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament as a #7 seed, showcasing their strong performance in the WAC.
In 2005, Tulsa announced its departure from the WAC and joined Conference USA (C-USA). During their time in C-USA from 2005 to 2014, Tulsa accumulated numerous conference championships across various sports, including men's soccer and tennis. In the 2014-2015 season, Tulsa moved on once again, this time joining the American Athletic Conference, where they currently compete.
The Golden Hurricane has experienced success in the AAC, making regular appearances in the NCAA Tournament and continuing their tradition of producing notable coaches. The team's head coach as of 2022 is Eric Konkol, who replaced Frank Haith. Tulsa's basketball program has a history of developing successful coaches, including Tubby Smith, Bill Self, and Nolan Richardson.
Overall, Tulsa's basketball conference history reflects a dynamic journey through various conferences, with the team consistently achieving success and producing influential coaches along the way.
The Birth of Basketball: A Historical Essay
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$30.39 $39.99
Current conference
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane basketball team currently plays in the American Athletic Conference (The American). The team joined this conference in 2014, having previously been a member of Conference USA from 2005 to 2014. Tulsa's basketball program has a history of success, with NIT championships in 1981 and 2001, an Elite Eight appearance in 2000, three Sweet Sixteen appearances, and 14 trips to the Big Dance.
The Golden Hurricane has had a number of notable coaches throughout its history, including Nolan Richardson, who is credited with bringing a new era of success to Tulsa, and Clarence Iba, who led the team to its first Missouri Valley Conference title and NCAA tournament appearance in 1955. Tulsa has also developed many coaches who have gone on to achieve great success in the NCAA, including Tubby Smith, who won a national championship while coaching at the University of Kentucky, and Bill Self, who coached at the University of Kansas.
The Tulsa men's basketball team has had a number of recent coaching changes. In 2022, Eric Konkol was hired as the new head coach, replacing Frank Haith. Konkol previously coached at Louisiana Tech and is known for his success in leading the team to the 2019 NIT Championship. Prior to Konkol, the team was coached by Frank Haith, who resigned in 2022.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane plays its home games at the Reynolds Center, an 8,355-capacity on-campus arena adjacent to Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium. The student section, known as the Storm Front, is known for its members' enthusiastic support, including the tradition of wearing various animal masks during opponent free throws.
Tennessee Volunteers: Elite 8 Dreams?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Conference USA
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane basketball team has had a rich history, with several conference realignments over the years. One of these conferences was Conference USA, which Tulsa joined in 2005. During their time in Conference USA, Tulsa enjoyed remarkable success, accumulating an impressive tally of 40 conference championships. This haul included 16 postseason titles and nine regular-season crowns, with three of them being West Division titles.
The men's soccer team at Tulsa, known as the Golden Hurricane, also experienced success in Conference USA. They secured five consecutive conference championships from 2007 to 2012, showcasing their dominance during this period. Additionally, the men's tennis program added to the Conference USA trophy cabinet, clinching titles in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011. The women's tennis team followed suit, capturing Conference USA championships in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011.
Tulsa's tenure in Conference USA lasted until 2014 when they made the decision to depart for another conference. This move was announced on April 2, 2013, with Tulsa confirming their intention to leave Conference USA and join the Big East Conference. However, the Big East Conference underwent a renaming process, and by the time Tulsa transitioned in July 2014, they were set to compete in the newly branded American Athletic Conference.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball team currently competes in the American Athletic Conference, showcasing their talents in front of passionate fans at the Reynolds Center, an on-campus arena with a capacity of 8,355. The student section, known as the Storm Front, is particularly noteworthy for its energetic atmosphere, with members of the TU Chapter of Beta Upsilon Chi adding a unique flavour to the games with their shields and creative array of animal masks.
Badminton vs Tennis: What Makes Tennis More Popular?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$4
American Athletic Conference
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball team plays in the American Athletic Conference (AAC), also known as "The American". The team joined the conference in 2014 and has a long history of success, with 14 appearances in the NCAA tournament, two National Invitation Tournament wins, and one CBI tournament win.
The American Athletic Conference was established on April 3, 2013, by the remaining ten football-playing members of the previous conference after the departure of the Catholic 7 universities. The conference prefers the nickname "The American" to avoid confusion with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Over the years, there have been some realignment moves, with schools like Louisville and Rutgers leaving and new members being added.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane has a rich basketball history, with notable coaches and players contributing to their success. They play their home games at the Reynolds Center, an 8,355-capacity on-campus arena adjacent to Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium. The student section, known as the Storm Front, is renowned for its energetic atmosphere, with members of the TU Chapter of Beta Upsilon Chi adding to the excitement with their unique traditions during games.
The team's head coach, Eric Konkol, was hired in 2022, and he has continued the tradition of excellence established by previous renowned coaches such as Nolan Richardson and Clarence Iba. Tulsa's basketball program has produced notable alumni, including seven retired numbers, with the most recent honour bestowed upon Bingo Smith in 2020.
The Golden Hurricane's primary basketball rival is Wichita State University, and they have a history of exciting matchups and a competitive spirit. Tulsa's ability to hire talented coaches and develop successful teams has been well-recognised in the American Athletic Conference.
Crossovers: Basketball's Useless Art Form?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$21.21
Tulsa's ability to hire good coaches
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball team represents the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team currently plays in the American Athletic Conference, having previously been a part of Conference USA.
Tulsa has had a long history of success in basketball, especially since the hiring of Nolan Richardson in 1980, who is credited with bringing the program to national prominence. The team has made 16 NCAA tournament appearances, 10 NIT appearances, and two CBI appearances. They have won two National Invitation Tournaments, in 1981 and 2001, and one CBI tournament. In 2005, Street & Smith's named the University of Tulsa as the 59th best college basketball program of all time.
Much of Tulsa's success has been attributed to its ability to hire good coaching candidates. Notable coaches who have worked at Tulsa include Clarence Iba, brother of Henry Iba, who coached the team for 11 years from 1949 and is the second all-time winningest coach at the school with 137 wins. Other big-name coaches include University of Kansas coach Bill Self, Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, and Buzz Peterson, who led the team to the 2001 NIT Championship.
However, despite their ability to hire good coaches, Tulsa has struggled to retain them. Since J.D. Barnett's firing after the 1990-1991 season, only one coach has stayed at the program for more than four seasons. It is speculated that finances may be a factor, with coaches leaving for larger programs.
The current head coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane is Eric Konkol, hired in 2022 from Louisiana Tech to replace Frank Haith who had resigned.
Best Insoles for Basketball: Do VKTRY Insoles Work?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Tulsa Basketball, also known as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, is currently part of the American Athletic Conference (The American).
Tulsa Basketball joined the American Athletic Conference in 2014, after leaving Conference USA.
Before joining the American Athletic Conference, Tulsa Basketball was a member of Conference USA from 2005 to 2014. Prior to that, they were part of the Western Athletic Conference from 1996 to 2004.
Yes, Tulsa Basketball has had a long history and has been part of several different conferences over the years. Before 1996, they were in the Missouri Valley Conference, and they have also been affiliated with the Big 12 Conference for women's rowing.
