Iowa Athletics announces 2025 Hall of Fame Class
Former Outland Trophy winner Brandon Scherff, former AD Bob Bowlsby among eight inductees
By Hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Iowa Letterwinners Club and the University of Iowa Athletics Department announced its 2025 Hall of Fame Class on Thursday.
The 36th Hall of Fame class includes Justin Austin (men’s track and field), Lisa Birocci Banse (softball), Bob Bowlsby (administration), Elena Callas King (women’s golf), Lisa Cellucci (field hockey), Brandon Scherff (football), Brad Smith (men’s wrestling) and Tom Williams (men’s swimming and diving).
The eight-person class will be inducted into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 29 – the evening prior to the Iowa football team’s season opener against Albany.
The induction ceremony, which is open to the public, will be held in the Feller Club Room at Carver-Hawkeye Arena with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. (CT) and the ceremony will follow at 6:30 p.m. Cost for the evening is $25 and includes heavy appetizers and a cash bar will be available. Reserve your spot TODAY!
All Iowa athletes who have earned at least one varsity letter at Iowa are eligible for the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame. Athletes must have completed their eligibility 10 years and coaches/administrators five years prior to their induction.
2025 Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees
Justin Austin (Men’s Track and Field)
Five-time All-American, earning the distinction in 2011 (indoor, 200-meters; outdoor, 200-meters), 2012 (outdoor, 200-meters) and 2013 (outdoor, 200-meters; outdoor, 400-meter relay)… two-time Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year in 2011 and 2013… two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Outdoor Championships (2011, 2013)… only Hawkeye to be Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Athlete of the Championship twice… five-time Big Ten champion – 2011 (indoor 200-meters; outdoor 200-meters), 2013 (outdoor 100-meter; outdoor 200-meters; outdoor 400-meter relay)… two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection (2011, 2013)… Big Ten Athlete of the Week (April 10, 2013)… graduated with five school records – indoor (60-meters, 200-meters); outdoor (100-meters, 200-meters, 4×100-relay).
Lisa Birocci Banse (Softball)
Two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American, earning third-team honors in 2003 and 2005… three-time NFCA first-team all-region selection (2003, 2004, 2005)… 2003 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year after winning 29 games with 15 shutouts… two-time All-Big Ten selection, earning first-team honors in 2003 and second-team honors in 2004… two-time Big Ten All-Tournament team selection, earning MVP honors in 2003… named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team in 2005… team Most Valuable Player in 2005… four-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week selection… won 90 career games, posting a 1.20 ERA over 175 appearances with 946 strikeouts in 842 innings with 40 shutouts and 81 complete games… also hit 17 career home runs… still ranks in the top-seven all-time in appearances, innings, complete games, ERA, wins and strikeouts… tossed two career no-hitters (April 20, 2003 vs. Indiana; March 4, 2005 vs. Georgia Southern)… led team to four NCAA Regional appearances… won the Big Ten regular season and tournament title in 2003… team placed in top three of Big Ten standings all four seasons… two-time Academic All-Big Ten (2004-05)… played professional softball in Italy, Guatemala and Taiwan… was a member of the Italian National Team (2005-2006, 2009, 2019-21)… played in the 2019 Olympic Qualifer in addition to winning three European Championships (2005, 2019, 2021) for Team Italy… also served as the pitching coach for Team Italy (2017-18) at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, and was pitching coach for Team Spain (2022-23)
Was the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) state tournament champion in 1978… set the AIAW state tournament record in 1978… three-time AIAW National Championship individual qualifier (1979, 1980, 1981)… four-time AIAW Region 6 All-Tournament team selection (1978-81)… 1981 AIAW All-Region team honoree… three-time Big Ten Championship qualifier (1978-80)… named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team in 1979 and 1980… team Most Valuable Player in 1979.
Three-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) All-American selection (1995,1996,1998)… three-time NFHCA West Region All-American (1995, 1996, 1998)… four-time All-Big Ten honoree, earning first-team honors in 1995 and 1996 and second-team distinction in 1997 and 1998… Iowa’s all-time leader in program saves with 592… led the team to two Big Ten regular season titles with an undefeated conference record of 10-0 in both seasons… one Big Ten Tournament championship… three NCAA Elite Eight appearances and an NCAA Final Four… member of the United States National Team (1999-2001)… member of the USA Under-23 National Team (1997-1998)… member of the USA Under 18-National Team (1993-1994)… competed at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
Won the 142-pound title at the 1976 NCAA Championships, helping Iowa to the 1976 team title… was a member of the first two NCAA team titles in school history (1975, 1976)… three-time Big Ten placewinner… was a member of the first recruiting class for Gary Kurdelmeier at Iowa… wrestled under Kurdelmeier, Dan Gable and J Robinson… had a decorated high school coaching career, becoming the winningest coach in Iowa high school wrestling history… has the most dual meet wins, most traditional state titles, most individual state champions and the most four-time state champions in state history… two-time National Wrestling Coach of the Year… two-time Iowa Coach of the Year… recipient of the Bob Siddens Iowa High School Coaching Excellence Award… member of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, Illinois Wrestling Hall of Fame, Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame and Lisbon Hall of Fame.
Five-time All-American — 1984 (50 free), 1985 (50 free, 400-free relay); 1986 (50 free, 400-free Relay)… nine-time Big Ten champion — 1983 (400-free relay, 400-medley relay); 1984 (50 free, 400- medley relay); 1985 (50 free, 400-medley relay), 1986 (50 free, 100 free, 400-free relay)… three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection (1984, 1985, 1986)… recipient of the Jim Marshall Award in 1986… member of Team USA, winning a gold medal with a record time at the 1987 Pan American Games… 1987 World University Games gold medalist in the 50 free… 1988 gold medalist at the U.S. Open… member of two Team USA World record-setting 200-freestyle relays… competed in the 1988 Olympic Trials.
