Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks logo
DivisionWestern (1949–1950)
Founded1948
Folded1951
ArenaThe Hippodrome
LocationWaterloo, Iowa
Team colorsBlack, Gold, and White
Team managerUnknown
Head coachCharley Shipp (1948–1950)
Jack Smiley (1950–1951)
OwnershipP.L. "Pinkie" George
Affiliation(s)None
Championships0
Conference titles0
Division titles0

The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the current Big Four Leagues.

Franchise history

An autographed program from the Waterloo Hawks 1949–50 season.

The Waterloo Hawks were founded in 1948, playing in the National Basketball League. In 1949, the National Basketball League was absorbed by its rival, the Basketball Association of America, forming the National Basketball Association; the Hawks were thus a founding member of the NBA. In the 1949–1950 season, their first and only one in the NBA, they finished 19–43, fifth out of six in the Western Division. The Waterloo Hawks are of no relation to the current-day Atlanta Hawks franchise; at the time of Waterloo's existence in the NBA, the latter franchise was based in Moline, Illinois as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (and moved to Milwaukee when Waterloo's franchise folded).

The National Basketball Association contracted after the 1949–1950 season. The league went from 17 teams to 11 before the 1950–1951 season started. Midway through the 1950–1951 season, the Washington Capitols folded as well, bringing the number of teams in the league down to ten.[1]

Meanwhile, the National Professional Basketball League was formed around the former NBA teams, with teams added in new larger markets. The charter teams were the East Division: Sheboygan Redskins (Former NBA), Anderson Packers (Former NBA), Louisville Alumnites and Grand Rapids Hornets. West Division: Denver Refiners/Evansville Agogans, Saint Paul Lights, Kansas City Hi-Spots and Waterloo Hawks (Former NBA).[2]

The arena

The Waterloo Hawks played at The Hippodrome. The arena is still in use today and is located at 250 Ansborough Ave, Waterloo, IA 50701.

Season-by-season records

NBL champions NBA champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season League Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards
1948–49NBLWestern4th3032.4846
1949–50NBAWestern5th1943.30620
1950–51NPBLWestern1st3224.571——

Waterloo Hawks all-time coaches

Waterloo Hawks all-time roster

B

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Harry Boykoff 13 Center 1949–50 St. John's
Don Boven 12 Forward 1949–50 Western Michigan

C

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Paul Cloyd 12 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Wisconsin

G

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Elmer Gainer 14 Forward/Center 1949–50 DePaul
Ward "Hoot" Gibson 14 Forward/Center 1949–50 Creighton

H

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Dale Hamilton 14 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Franklin College

K

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Leo Kubiak 4 Guard 1949–50 Bowling Green

M

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Richard "Dick" Mehen 7 Forward/Center 1949–50 Tennessee
Ken Menke  ?? Guard 1949–50 Illinois
Al Miksis 10 Center 1949–50 Western Illinois

O

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Gene Ollrich 3 Guard 1949–50 Drake
Johnny Orr 9 Forward 1949–50 Beloit College

P

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Stan Patrick 8 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Illinois
Johnny Payak 5 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Bowling Green
Jack Phelan 9 Forward 1949–50 DePaul
John Pritchard 11 Center 1949–50 Drake

S

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Wayne See 6 Guard 1949–50 Northern Arizona
Charley Shipp 5 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Catholic
Jack Smiley 10 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Illinois
Gene Stump  ?? Guard/Forward 1949–50 DePaul

T

Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Robert "Bob" Tough 3 Guard/Forward 1949–50 St. John's

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1949-50 NBA Season Summary". Basketball-Reference.com.
  2. ↑ "1950 National Professional Basketball League (NPBL) Standings on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
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