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

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 The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. Following its third season, 1948–49, the BAA absorbed most of National Basketball League (NBL) and rebranded as the National Ba ...

, 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. 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 The Sheboygan Red Skins (or Redskins) was a professional basketball team based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, which was an original National Basketball Association franchise during the 1949–1950 season. History Overview The Redskins played in th ...

(Former NBA), Anderson Packers (Former NBA),

Louisville Alumnites Louisville Alumnites were a team in the National Professional Basketball League (1950-1951), based in Louisville, Kentucky. History The National Basketball Association contracted after the 1949–1950 season, losing six teams: The Anderson Packers ...

and

Grand Rapids Hornets Grand Rapids Hornets were a franchise for one season (1950) in the National Professional Basketball League, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. History The National Basketball Association contracted after the 1949–1950 season, losing six teams: T ...

. West Division: Denver Refiners/ Evansville Agogans, Saint Paul Lights, Kansas City Hi-Spots and Waterloo Hawks (Former NBA).

The arena

The Waterloo Hawks played at the Hippodrome, also known as

McElroy Auditorium The Hippodrome, formerly known as the McElroy Auditorium, is a 5,155 permanent seat multipurpose arena located in Waterloo, Iowa. The auditorium was built in 1919 and renovated in 1936, when the roof was raised, floor was excavated and additiona ...

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

Season-by-season records

Waterloo Hawks all-time coaches

Charley Shipp Charles William Shipp (December 3, 1913 – March 21, 1988) was an American professional basketball player and coach. A 6'1" guard-forward, Shipp attended Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, where he led the Irish to the National Catholic Cha ...

(record 8–27) * Jack Smiley (record 11–16)

Waterloo Hawks all-time roster

B

C

G

H

K

M

O

P

S

T

References

External links

Waterloo Hawks Complete History

Iowa's NBA team
from '' The Des Moines Register''
Promoter put Hawks on an NBA track
from '' The Des Moines Register''

{{NBAdefunct Waterloo Hawks, Basketball teams established in 1948 Basketball teams disestablished in 1951 Defunct basketball teams in the United States National Professional Basketball League (1950–51) 1948 establishments in Iowa 1951 disestablishments in Iowa Defunct National Basketball Association teams Waterloo, Iowa