Helena Frye
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball has a long history, with the roots of the team lying in 1901 when Ed Rule coached the Hawkeyes to a 10-2 record in their first varsity basketball season. The team has had its fair share of success, with eight National Invitation Tournament appearances, eight Big Ten regular-season conference championships, and three Big Ten tournament wins. However, the team has also faced setbacks and controversies, such as a suspension from the Big Ten in 1929 for violating conference rules. Iowa basketball saw a period of widespread success in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, but recent seasons have ended in disappointment, with the team failing to live up to expectations. With a new head coach, Ben McCollum, Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball is looking to rebuild and return to its former glory.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Basketball team name | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| University | University of Iowa |
| Coach | Ben McCollum |
| Former coach | George Raveling |
| Year of arena opening | 1983 |
| Number of National Invitation Tournament appearances | 8 |
| Number of Big Ten regular-season conference championships won | 8 |
| Number of Big Ten tournaments won | 3 |
| Number of NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments played in | 29 |
| Number of times advanced to the Final Four | 3 |
| Seasons with a program resurgence | 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s |
| Number of seats in the current arena | 15,400 |
| Number of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees | 4 |
| Number of home games for the 2025-26 season | 7-8 |
| New players for the 2025-26 season | Brendan Hausen, Isaia Howard, Tavion Banks, Cam Manyawu, Kael Combs |
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What You'll Learn
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team history
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has a long and storied history dating back to the early days of the sport. The roots of Iowa basketball can be traced back to 1901 when Ed Rule coached the Hawkeyes to a 10-2 record in their inaugural season of varsity basketball.
In the early years, the Hawkeyes played in the Iowa Armory and the Iowa Field House, with multiple-sport coaches leading the team. From 1902 to 1923, the best Iowa basketball finished in conference play was fifth, which they achieved three times. In 1922, Sam Barry was hired as Iowa's 10th head coach, and in his first season, he led the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten championship with a 13-2 record. Barry remained at Iowa until 1929, when he left for USC, but his legacy at Iowa was cemented with his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Following Barry, Rollie Williams took over as head coach from 1929 to 1942 and again in 1951. Williams became the winningest coach in Iowa history at the time with a 51.5% winning percentage. However, his tenure was marred by a suspension from the Big Ten in 1929 for violating conference rules, including the use of an illegal slush fund and possible recruiting violations. Iowa was eventually reinstated into the conference in 1930, but the scandal left a temporary stain on the program.
The Hawkeyes continued to find success in the following decades, especially under coaches like Lute Olson, George Raveling, and Tom Davis. Olson led the team to their last Big Ten regular-season championship and a Final Four appearance in 1980. Iowa basketball enjoyed a period of widespread success in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, with the program experiencing a resurgence during this time. The Hawkeyes have had eight National Invitation Tournament appearances, 29 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament appearances, and three Final Four appearances in their history. They currently play their home games in the 15,400-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, sharing the venue with the Iowa women's basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams.
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Iowa Hawkeyes coaches
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has a long and storied history, with numerous coaches contributing to its success over the years. The team is part of the University of Iowa athletics department and plays in the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which has a capacity of 15,400 seats.
The roots of Iowa basketball can be traced back to 1901 when Ed Rule coached the Hawkeyes to a 10-2 record in their inaugural season of varsity basketball. Rule held a winning percentage of 37-15 across his four non-consecutive seasons with the team, which remains the best in Iowa basketball history. Following Rule, the Hawkeyes had several coaches in the early 1900s, including Fred Bailey (1902-1903), John Chalmers (who also coached the football team) (1904-1905), and James Ashmore (1919-1922).
In 1922, Sam Barry was hired as Iowa's 10th head coach, and he led the team to their first Big Ten championship in 1923. Barry also authored a handbook on basketball, which featured Iowa players and facilities. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979. Rollie Williams took over as head coach after Barry, serving from 1929 to 1942 and again in 1951. Williams became the winningest coach in Iowa history at the time with a 51.5% winning percentage.
Iowa basketball saw particular success in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s with coaches like Lute Olson, George Raveling, and Tom Davis. Olson led the team to their last Big Ten regular-season championship and a Final Four appearance in 1980. Olson, along with coaches Sam Barry, Ralph Miller, and George Raveling, have been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The current head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes is Ben McCollum, who will lead the team in the 2025-26 season.
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Iowa Hawkeyes players
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has a rich history that dates back to the early days of the sport. The team's roots can be traced to 1901 when Ed Rule coached the Hawkeyes to a 10-2 record in their inaugural season of varsity basketball. Over the years, the Iowa Hawkeyes have had several notable coaches and players who have contributed to their success.
One of the most renowned coaches in the team's history is Sam Barry, who led the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten championship in 1923. Barry, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979, also authored a handbook on basketball strategy, featuring Iowa players and facilities. Following Barry, Rollie Williams took on the role of head coach on two separate occasions, from 1929 to 1942 and again in 1951. Williams became the winningest coach in Iowa history at the time, with a winning percentage of 51.5%.
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has had a total of four coaches inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Sam Barry, Ralph Miller, Lute Olson, and George Raveling, who passed away at the age of 88 in 2025. Under Olson's guidance, the team won their most recent Big Ten regular-season championship and advanced to the Final Four in 1980. The Hawkeyes have had a total of eight National Invitation Tournament appearances, three Big Ten tournament wins, and 29 appearances in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments.
The team's success continued in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, with a resurgence under Lute Olson and the leadership of coaches George Raveling and Tom Davis. The Hawkeyes play their home games in the 15,400-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which opened in 1983. In the 2006 season, they achieved a notable feat by winning 21 consecutive home games before eventually losing to their rival, Northern Iowa.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, the University of Iowa men's basketball team, led by head coach Ben McCollum, will play seven home games at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena. University of Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz has been recognised for his talent, being named to the preseason All-Big Ten team by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
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Iowa Hawkeyes seasons and results
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team has had a long and varied history as part of the University of Iowa athletics department. The team's roots can be traced back to 1901 when Ed Rule coached the Hawkeyes to a 10-2 record in their inaugural varsity basketball season. The Hawkeyes played in the Western Conference from 1902 to 1917, which later became the Big Ten Conference.
During the early years, the best Iowa basketball finish in conference play was fifth, which they achieved three times. The team's fortunes began to change in 1922 with the hiring of Sam Barry as Iowa's 10th head coach. In his first season, Barry led the Hawkeyes to a 13-2 record and their first Big Ten championship in school history. Iowa shared the Big Ten championship again in 1926 with Indiana, Michigan, and Purdue. Barry, who also coached the Iowa baseball team, went on to a successful career at USC and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1979.
Following Barry, Rollie Williams took over as head coach from 1929 to 1942 and again in 1951. Williams became the winningest coach in Iowa history at the time with a 51.5% winning percentage. However, his tenure was marred by a suspension from the Big Ten in 1929 due to violations of conference rules, including the operation of an illegal slush fund and possible recruiting violations.
Iowa basketball experienced a resurgence in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s under coaches Lute Olson, George Raveling, and Tom Davis. During this period, the Hawkeyes won their last Big Ten regular-season championship and advanced to the Final Four in 1980. Overall, the team has appeared in eight National Invitation Tournaments, won eight Big Ten regular-season conference championships, and claimed the Big Ten tournament title three times. They have also competed in 29 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournaments, reaching the semifinals in 1955 and playing in the championship game in 1956.
As for the upcoming 2025-26 season, the University of Iowa men's basketball team will play seven home games at the 15,400-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, sharing the space with the women's basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams. Season tickets are currently on sale, and senior Bennett Stirtz has been named to the preseason All-Big Ten team.
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Iowa Hawkeyes home venues
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team is part of the athletics department at the University of Iowa. The team currently plays at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, which has a capacity of 15,400 seats. The Carver-Hawkeye Arena is also shared by the Iowa women's basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams. The University of Iowa men's basketball team will play seven home games on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena as part of its non-conference schedule for the 2025-26 season.
Prior to moving to the Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Iowa Hawkeyes played at the Iowa Armory and the Iowa Field House, the latter of which is still used by the school's gymnastics teams. The Hawkeyes accumulated a school-record of 21 consecutive wins at home before losing to their in-state rival, Northern Iowa, in 2006.
Kinnick Stadium is another important venue for the Iowa Hawkeyes athletics department. While primarily serving as the home of Hawkeye Football, the stadium has also hosted notable basketball events. In 2019, Kinnick Stadium hosted an exhibition women's college basketball game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the DePaul Blue Demons. This game set an attendance record for a single game in women's basketball history, with 55,646 attendees. Kinnick Stadium was originally named Iowa Stadium when it opened in 1929 but was renamed in 1972 to honour Nile Kinnick, a former Heisman Trophy winner.
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Frequently asked questions
Iowa men's basketball has had a long history of success, with eight National Invitation Tournament appearances, eight Big Ten regular-season conference championships, and three Big Ten tournament wins. However, recent seasons may have failed to live up to expectations, with Iowa State basketball experiencing a disappointing end to the 2024-25 season.
The 2024-25 Iowa State basketball season ended in disappointment, with a second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Ole Miss. Despite a promising start, the team faced injuries and illnesses, and their season unraveled in January.
As of 2025, Ben McCollum is the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team.
Notable players on the Iowa men's basketball team include Impact Matteoni, Ashton Williamson, Brendan Hausen, Tavion Banks, Isaia Howard, Cam Manyawu, and Kael Combs.
