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Stadium: James H. Hilton Coliseum
James H. Hilton Coliseum is a 14,092-seat multi-purpose arena in Ames, Iowa. The arena opened in 1971. It is home to the Iowa State University Cyclones basketball, wrestling, gymnastics and volleyball teams. Iowa State has a homecourt dominance in Men's Basketball and Wrestling at Hilton.
The building was constructed in 1971 as part of the Iowa State Center, a new athletics area suggested by then-ISU president Dr. James H. Hilton (for whom the arena is named), located to the southeast of the main campus. It includes Jack Trice Stadium, C.Y. Stephens Auditorium, Fisher Theater and Scheman Continuing Education Building, and was in part meant to replace the smaller former athletics plant, including State Gymnasium and Clyde Williams Stadium, at the corner of Union Dr. & Sheldon Ave.
The arena hosted the 1972 NCAA basketball tournament Midwest Regionals, as well as the 1982, 1988 and 1993 NCAA wrestling championships. It has also hosted commencements, concerts, conventions and other assemblies.
Team History:
Johnny Orr came to Iowa State from the University of Michigan in 1980. Iowa State's Athletics Director had called Orr to inquire about Michigan assistant Bill Frieder. When Orr learned of the salary Iowa State would offer Frieder, he negotiated the Iowa State head coaching job for himself. Orr is credited with building "Hilton Magic" and laying the foundation for Iowa State's success in men's basketball. A number of Cyclone greats played for Orr, such as Jeff Grayer, Barry Stevens, walk-on Jeff Hornacek, Lafester Rhodes, Justus Thigpen, Victor Alexander, Fred Hoiberg, Julius Michalik, and Loren Meyer, many of whom would go on to success in the NBA.
Orr's first team (1980-81), led by junior forward Robert Estes (14.9 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game) produced a lackluster 9-18 record. Freshman forward Ron Harris, whom Orr considered his first prominent Cyclone recruit, contributed per-game averages of 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Led by sophomore Ron Harris and freshman recruit Barry Stevens of Flint, Michigan, Orr's 1981-82 team finished the season with a 10-17 overall record and a 5-9 record in Big Eight play. Harris gave the Cyclones 13.3 points per game, while Stevens contributed 13.0 points per game. Senior Robert Estes added 10.3 points per game.
Season Preview:
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard had to take his football program in a different direction last fall when Dan McCarney stepped down after a 12-year stint as head coach. McCarney went 56-85 over that span and took the fall for a 1-7 conference record last year, when the Cyclones finished last in the Big 12 North for the second time in four years.
On Nov. 27, Pollard introduced former Texas and Auburn defensive coordinator Gene Chizik as his new head coach. Chizik was Mack Brown's top assistant for two years and led the defense for the 2005 national champions at Texas, and was chosen the country's best assistant coach during his three-year stint at Auburn. He earned his coaching stripes in stops at Stephen F. Austin and UCF before hitting the big-time with Auburn, and taking the reins at Iowa State is the logical next step for this up-and-coming 45-year-old.
"The career decisions I have made have always been the right ones," Chizik said. "It has been a lifetime professional dream to be the CEO of a college football program, and I couldn't be more pleased that Iowa State University is the institution providing me this opportunity. I've had great mentors to learn from in my career, and I am fully prepared and energized to begin my Cyclone tenure."
Official Site:
cyclones.com
