Kirk Speraw

Position: Assistant Coach Experience: Third Season Alma Mater: University of Iowa, 1980

Coach Kirk Speraw Photo Gallery

Kirk Speraw is in his third year as an assistant coach at Iowa. Speraw, who has over three decades of coaching experience, assists in all aspects of the program including recruiting, opponent scouting, practices, player development and game preparation.

Speraw has helped revitalize the Iowa basketball program the last two seasons. Not only has the attendance at Carver-Hawkeye Arena increased by more than 20 percent, but Speraw and the Hawkeye coaching staff guided the team to the 2012 National Invitation Tournament and the program's first postseason victory since 2003. Additionally, the coaching staff led Iowa to four wins over top 25 teams a year ago, something only three other Big Ten teams accomplished.

He helped coach the Hawkeyes to 18 wins in 2012, which was seven more victories than the previous season, which ties for the fourth-best turnaround, after the second year, of a new coaching staff in Iowa men's basketball history. The seven-win turnaround was the third-best in the Big Ten in 2012. Furthermore, Speraw helped coach the Hawkeyes to four more Big Ten victories in 2012 than a year ago, which is the best improvement for an Iowa team since 1994 to 1995.

Speraw helped mentor Melsahn Basabe, Bryce Cartwright, Matt Gatens and Aaron White to all-Big Ten status the past two seasons.

Speraw, who is a Sioux City, Iowa, native was a two-time Hawkeye letterman (1978-79) who played for head coach Lute Olson. He was a member of the 1978-79 squad that won 20 contests and a Big Ten title. As a senior, he was named the team's most inspirational player.

As both an assistant and head coach, Speraw has mentored dozens of players who have played professionally, including Hawkeyes Ronnie Lester, Steve Krafcisin, Vince Brookins, Steve Waite, Kenny Arnold, Kevin Boyle, Mark Gannon and Bobby Hansen.

Speraw began his coaching career with the Hawkeyes, serving as a graduate assistant with Iowa's 1979-80 team that advanced to the Final Four. The Hawkeyes went 23-8 that season. Speraw then moved to Denver University, where he was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two years (1980-82).

Speraw joined the Hawkeyes after serving 17 years as head coach at the University of Central Florida (1993-2010). Speraw is the school's winningest coach with a 279-233 record. During his tenure, 18 of his players received all-league honors, including four first team honorees. Additionally, since the start of the 1993-94 season, 54 of Speraw's UCF student-athletes earned academic all-conference recognition.

His tenure included four NCAA Tournament berths (1994, '96, '04 and `05). In 2006-07, he was recognized as Conference USA Coach of the Year after guiding the Knights to 22 victories and a second place league finish. His most successful season at UCF was in 2003-04, when the Knights finished 25-6, received votes in the top 25 and won the Atlantic Sun championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Prior to his head coaching job at UCF, he served as an assistant coach at the University of Florida for three seasons (1990-93) under Head Coach Lon Kruger. While on the Florida staff, the Gators participated in two NIT's, including advancing to the semifinals in 1992.

Prior to his three years in Gainesville, Speraw was the head coach at Pensacola Junior College (PJC) from 1987-90. At PJC, he led the Pirates to an 82-21 record and three consecutive Panhandle Conference titles. His 1989-90 team won 31 games and finished fifth nationally. The team's success that year earned Speraw national recognition. He was tabbed the NABC/Kodak National Junior College Coach of the Year, as well as the state's Coach of the Year.

Speraw also had a coaching stop at Florida Southern, serving as an assistant from 1982-87. The Moccasins posted a 100-46 record and made four appearances in the Division II NCAA Tournament, including a third-place finish in 1986.

Speraw and his wife, Tracy (an Iowa City native), have two sons, Drew and Dustin, and two daughters, Brooke and Bailey. Drew played for his dad at Central Florida for four years and is currently the administrative assistant for the Iowa men's basketball team.