Bucky O’Connor
Bucky O’Connor (1913-1958)
Teams coached: Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa record: 114-59 (.659)
Overall record: 114-59 (.659)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 2 (1955, 1956)
- NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen: 2 (1955, 1956)
- NCAA Tournament Final Four: 2 (1955, 1956)
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 0
- Big Ten Regular Season Champion: 2 (1955, 1956)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1951-1958 | Iowa |
| 1950-1951 | Iowa (asst) |
| 1950 | Iowa |
| 1948-1950 | Iowa (freshmen) |
Bucky O’Connor Facts
- Frank O’Connor
- Born December 21, 1913
- Died April 22, 1958
- Hometown: Monroe, Iowa
- Alma Mater: Drake University (BA, 1938)
- Graduated from Newton HS (IA) and then played for head basketball coach Bill Williams at Drake
- Started his coaching career with stints at Boone HS (IA) and Harrisburg HS (IL)
- Served in Japan with the US Army Air Corps during World War II; earned the rank of captain
- Worked at Boone HS and Boone College in Iowa for several years after the war
- Arrived at the University of Iowa in 1948, first serving as freshmen basketball coach and head golf coach
- Served as the varsity head basketball coach for 11 games in 1950, going 6-5
- Became the official head coach starting in 1951, leading the Hawkeyes for seven full seasons
- Went 114-59 overall at the helm, winning two Big Ten titles and reaching back-to-back NCAA Final Fours
- The Final Four teams were led by Iowa’s “Fabulous Five,” all recruited and coached by O’Connor
- Tragically died in highway accident in April 1958 at the age of just 44
- Survived by his wife, Jane, and their daughter, Kathy
- Several other family members have come through the Iowa program since the early 1990s
Bucky O’Connor Coaching Tree
- Ed Badger (Cincinnati, Chicago Bulls)
- Dave Gunther (Bemidji State, Buena Vista, North Dakota, Wayne State)
- Sharm Scheuerman (Iowa)
