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Wartburg Knights men's basketball

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Wartburg Knights
Head coachSam Leal (1st season)
ConferenceARC
LocationWaverly, Iowa
ArenaLevick Arena
(Capacity: 2,000)
NicknameKnights
ColorsOrange and Black[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1987
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1975, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2017
NCAA tournament appearances
1975, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2017
Conference tournament champions
2001, 2017
Conference regular season champions
1952, 1955, 1959, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2006

The Wartburg Knights men's basketball team represents the Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, United States. The team is a member of the American Rivers Conference as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The team plays its regular season games in Levick Arena, along with women's basketball, wrestling, and volleyball teams.

History[edit]

Wartburg men's basketball began in 1935, under head coach Elmer Hertel. The first Wartburg team finished 12–3 in 1935–36, its first victory was a 33-24 win against Lenox College. Hertel coached the first 3 seasons in the programs history. Since Hertel, Wartburg has had a total of 13 head coaches, the majority of the seasons coached by Buzz Levick and Dick Peth.[2] Following his retirement the

Lewis "Buzz" Levick era (1965-1993)[edit]

Buzz Levick was named the head coach in 1965 and would go on to coach 28 seasons for the Knights. During his tenure he would led the Knights to 14 IIAC regular season titles, 9 of which would come in a row from 1967-1975.[3] Following his retirement, the colleges new arena, built in 2008, would be named in his honor, Levick Arena.[4]

Dick Peth era (1997-2024)[edit]

Dick Peth took over the Wartburg men's basketball program in 1997. During his tenure at Wartburg he has led them to three regular season Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, including back to back in 2005 and 2006. In 2017 his Wartburg Knight basketball team shocked the conference by winning the IIAC tournament as the tournament's 6th seed.[5] They would go on to reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, upsetting #10 Benedictine College and #4 UW-River Falls in the first and second rounds.[6] In December 2021, Peth entered the 600 win club following Wartburg's 82–70 win against University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.[7] In April 2024, Peth announced his retirement after 27 seasons at the helm.[8]

Sam Leal era (2024-present)[edit]

Sam Leal was announced as the 13th head men's basketball coach in Wartburg history on May 1, 2024.[9]

NCAA tournament results[edit]

Wartburg has appeared in 7 NCAA Tournaments with a record of 7–8.[10]

Year Rank Round Opponent Result
1975 First Round
Sweet Sixteen		 Coe
Augustana (Ill)		 W 79-78
L 61−62
1987 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Gustavus Adolphus
North Park		 W 91-81
W 74-72
L 63-88
1989 First Round
Sweet Sixteen
Regional Third Place		 Gustavus Adolphus
Nebraska Wesleyan
Pomona-Pitzer		 W 78-62
L 63-87
L 67-80
1991 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 Bye
Central (IA)
Calvin		 -
W 75-73
L 57-61
1993 First Round St John's (MN) L 75-80(OT)
2001 13 First Round
Second Round		 Bye
Illinois Wesleyan		 -
L 60-65
2017 First Round
Second Round
Sweet Sixteen		 #10 Benedictine(ILL)
#4 UW-River Falls
Augustana (Ill)		 W 92-66
W 76-43
L 69-80

Head Coaching Records[edit]

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Wartburg Knights (no conference) (1935–1936)
1935–1936 Elmer Hertel 12-3
Wartburg Knights (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1935–2018)
1936–1937 Elmer Hertel 8-5
1937–1938 Elmer Hertel 8-7
Elmer Hertel: 28-15
1938–1939 Ralph McKinzie 3-11
1939–1940 Ralph McKinzie 1-13
Ralph McKinzie: 4-24
1940–1941 C.C. Van Dyke 3-12
1941–1942 C.C. Van Dyke 1-13
1942–1943 C.C. Van Dyke 5-8
C.C. Van Dyke: 9-33
1943–1944 Elmer Hertel 8-8
1944–1945 Elmer Hertel 11-8
Elmer Hertel: 47-30
1977–1978 William Roselius 5-15
William Roselius: 5-15
1946–1947 Stanley Hall 8-9
Stanley Hall: 8-9
1947–1948 Axel Bundgaard 6-11
1948–1949 Axel Bundgaard 8-11
1949–1950 Axel Bundgaard 8-13
1950–1951 Axel Bundgaard 13-9
1951–1952 Axel Bundgaard 17-7 1st
1952–1953 Axel Bundgaard 14-8
1953–1954 Axel Bundgaard 15-8
1954–1955 Axel Bundgaard 17-9 1st
Axel Bundgaard: 98-76
1955–1956 Earnest Opperman 17-8
Earnest Opperman: 17-8
1956–1957 Axel Bundgaard 19-8
1957–1958 Axel Bundgaard 16-9
1958–1959 Axel Bundgaard 21-5 1st
1959–1960 Axel Bundgaard 18-7 1st
1960–1961 Axel Bundgaard 15-9
Axel Bundgaard: 187-114
1961–1962 Fred Jaspers 6-18
1962–1963 Fred Jaspers 13-12
1963–1964 Fred Jaspers 11-12
1964–1965 Fred Jaspers 12-10
Fred Jaspers: 42-52
1965–1966 Buzz Levick 12-10 10-6
1966–1967 Buzz Levick 19-7 10-4 1st NAIA First Round
1967–1968 Buzz Levick 22-3 15-1 1st
1968–1969 Buzz Levick 25-1 15-0 1st NAIA First Round
1969–1970 Buzz Levick 26-3 13-2 1st NAIA Sweet Sixteen
1970–1971 Buzz Levick 19-8 12-4 1st
1971–1972 Buzz Levick 18-5 13-2 1st
1972–1973 Buzz Levick 21-8 13-2 1st NAIA First Round
1973–1974 Buzz Levick 23-5 14-2 1st NAIA First Round
1974–1975 Buzz Levick 22-6 12-2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1975–1976 Buzz Levick 13-13 7-7
1976–1977 Buzz Levick 19-6 10-4
1977–1978 Buzz Levick 19-7 10-4
1978–1979 Buzz Levick 10-14 4-11
1979–1980 Buzz Levick 18-8 9-5
1980–1981 Buzz Levick 14-12 8-6
1981–1982 Buzz Levick 16-9 9-5
1982–1983 Buzz Levick 21-5 10-4 1st
1983–1984 Buzz Levick 14-15 10-5
1984–1985 Buzz Levick 12-14 6-8
1985–1986 Buzz Levick 17-9 9-6
1986–1987 Buzz Levick 19-9 12-4 1st NCAA Elite Eight
1987–1988 Buzz Levick 15-11 8-8
1988–1989 Buzz Levick 21-8 13-3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1989–1990 Buzz Levick 17-9 12-5
1990–1991 Buzz Levick 23-5 13-3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1991–1992 Buzz Levick 15-10 8-9
1992–1993 Buzz Levick 18-8 13-4 1st First Round
Buzz Levick: 527-236
1993–1994 Howard Gauthier 14-11 8-8
1994–1995 Howard Gauthier 13-11 10-7
1995–1996 Howard Gauthier 12–13 8-9
Howard Gauthier: 39-35
1996–1997 Marty Simmons 10-14 7-9 T-7th
Marty Simmons: 10-14
1997–1998 Dick Peth 16-9 13-7
1998–1999 Dick Peth 13-12 11-10
1999–2000 Dick Peth 12-12 10-10
2000–2001 Dick Peth 24-4 17-1 1st NCAA Second Round
2001–2002 Dick Peth 20-8 14-4 2nd
2002–2003 Dick Peth 21-7 14-4 2nd
2003–2004 Dick Peth 20-8 11-5 T–2nd
2004–2005 Dick Peth 23–5 15-1 1st
2005–06 Dick Peth 19-6 12-4 1st
2006–07 Dick Peth 11-15 5-11 6th
2007–2008 Dick Peth 9-16 6-10 7th
2008–09 Dick Peth 15-13 8-8 4th
2009–10 Dick Peth 15-12 8–8 6th
2010–11 Dick Peth 10-14 5-11 8th
2011–12 Dick Peth 11-14 5-11 7th
2012–13 Dick Peth 15-12 8–6 4th
2013–14 Dick Peth 13-13 7-7 T–5th
2014–15 Dick Peth 15-13 6-8 5th
2015–16 Dick Peth 16-11 8-6 T-2nd
2016–17 Dick Peth 21-10 8–8 T–5th NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2017–18 Dick Peth 17-10 9-7 T-4th
Wartburg Knights (American Rivers Conference) (2018–Present)
2018–19 Dick Peth 17-9 11-5 3rd
2019–20 Dick Peth 12-15 7-9 T-5th
2020–21 Dick Peth 4-7 2-4 7th Postseason not held due to COVID-19
2021–22 Dick Peth 16–10 9–7 T–4th
2022–23 Dick Peth 11–15 8–8 5th
2023–24 Dick Peth 3–22 2–14 T–8th
Dick Peth: 401–302
2024–2025 Sam Leal 0–0
Sam Leal: 0–0
Total:

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Current coaching staff[edit]

  • Head coach: Sam Leal
  • Assistant coach: Kade Terrell
  • S&C coach: Ethan Hayes
  • Athletic trainer: Danny Drees

[11]

Head coaching history[edit]

As of the completion of 2024 season[12]

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1935-1938
1943-1945		 Elmer Hertel 5 47–30 .610
1938–1939 Ralph McKinzie 2 4–24 .143
1940–1943 C.C. Van Dyke 3 9–33 .214
1945–1946 William Roselius 1 5–15 .250
1946–1947 Stanley Hall 1 8–9 .471
1947–1955
1956-1961		 Axel Bundgaard 13 187–114 .621
1955–1956 Earnest Opperman 1 17–8 .680
1961–1965 Fred Jaspers 4 42–52 .447
1965–1993 Lewis "Buzz" Levick 29 527–236 .691
1993–1996 Howard Gauthier 3 39–35 .527
1996–1997 Marty Simmons 1 10–14 .527
1997–2024 Dick Peth 27 401–302 .570
2024–Present Sam Leal 1 0–0 –
Totals 13 coaches –

† Kathy Franken served as the interim head coach for the end of the 2005-2006 season following the departure of Monica Severson.

Individual awards[edit]

Conference Awards[edit]

Conference Awards[13]
Year Player Type
1969-70 GE Buenning Most Valuable Player
1971-72 Dave Platte Most Valuable Player
1974-75 Bud Johnson Most Valuable Player
1988-89 Mike Murphy Most Valuable Player
1992-93 Matt Leary Most Valuable Player
2000-01 Troy Osterhaus Most Valuable Player
2004-05 Nate Schmidt Most Valuable Player

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Brand Guidlines Wartburg College" (PDF). Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Wartburg Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). go-knights.net. Wartburg Athletics. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ^ Maly, Ron. "Buzz Levick". desmoinesregister.com. Des Moines Register. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Lewis "Buzz" Levick". wcfcourier.com. The Courier. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ^ "2016-17 Iowa Conference Men's Basketball Tournament - American Rivers Conference". rollrivers.com.
  6. ^ "College men's basketball: Wartburg on to Sweet 16, 76-43". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier.
  7. ^ "Peth nets 600th win". December 10, 2021 – via www.d3hoops.com.
  8. ^ "Wartburg's Peth to retire". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. April 3, 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  9. ^ Petrik, Ethan (May 1, 2024). "College men's basketball: Wartburg tabs Leal as Knights' next head coach". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Men's Basketball". Wartburg College Athletics.
  11. ^ "Men's Basketball Coaches".
  12. ^ "Wartburg Knights Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Wartburg Knights. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "Conference Awards - American Rivers Conference".

External links[edit]

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