Written by Marion Edwards, Athletic Communications Student Assistant

The 1982-1983 Loras College men's basketball team set a school record of 29 wins with only six losses during their record-setting year. After winning the NAIA District 15 Playoffs, the Duhawks qualified for the NAIA National Championship tournament in Kansas City, Kan. and posted two victories in the tournament against William Carey College of Mississippi and Winston Salem College of West Virginia. The season ended the next game against Fort Hayes State of Kansas but Loras finished as one of the top-eight teams in the nation that year. The team was coached by Doug Smith and Mike Jasulski and included Troy Cicero '84, Jeff Valentine '85, Jeff Hermsen '84, Van Bakke '84, Rob Rudakas '85, Sylvester Bush '87, Dwayne Spraglin '84, Mike Arnold '86, Andy Kotlarz '84, Scott Eisenbarth '86, Don Elbert '86, Rick Kullander and the late Patrick Dahl '86.

Pieces of this story were contributed by the 1982-83 men’s basketball team and the 1983 PURGOLD.

Coach Doug Smith approached the 1982-83 season with callous optimism. The Duhawks, coming off a disappointing 13-17 record, came alive with an extremely talented ball club to go with transfers, Valentine and Arnold, and freshman recruits, Dahl, Eisenbarth, and Elbert.

Assistant coach Jaskulski partnered with head coach Smith and led a team of players to victory in Kansas City. This established their strength and credibility as a team in the final showdown with Ft. Hayes State of Kansas but it all began on Lillis Court.

“That year was actually my first of six at Loras. I was fortunate that head coach Doug Smith and director of athletics Kevin White selected me to join the athletic department staff as an assistant coach. It was truly ‘right place- right time' joining a special group of guys.”

Amongst this special group of guys was Cicero.

[He] established himself as the team's floor leader at point guard to team with energetic offensive guard Dwayne Spraglin in the back court. 

“We won two big games and made it to the Elite 8 of the NAIA National Championship in Kansas City. Since we were NAIA Independent, we played a tough schedule of DI, DII, and DIII colleges.”

He explains that one of the biggest factors in the team’s success was what happened off of the court. 

Backup guards Bush and Arnold along with forward Kotlarz teamed with the six starters to give the Duhawks "first nine" almost interchangeable players who wore down opponents on the way to their 27 victories.

“Beating Salem from West Virginia was incredible. They were huge, super talented, and nobody gave us a chance to beat them.”

Kotlarz recalls one of his most memorable moments with the team. 

Kotlarz believes that amongst the physical conditioning, camaraderie, and competition, one of the most instrumental pieces of the Duhawk’s success were the people that supported them along the way. 

“I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the outstanding support we received from the Loras community, the fans, and especially some very loyal fans from Dubuque. They were always there in the gym on campus, or down at Five Flags cheering us on. We especially appreciated the die-hard local fans who tended to be the loudest in the gym and also were there for us if we needed any help during our time at Loras.”

Spraglin remembered the support the team had from fans, family and the City of Dubuque during the historic year and attributed the success to having a great fanbase rally behind them. 

“My fondest memory of the NAIA tournament was the intensity of the games. From the moment we arrived in Kansas City we knew we had an opportunity to make history representing Loras and our families. It felt good to have my family attend the games and share in the achievements of their vision in convincing me to go to Loras.”

 The college and the city of Dubuque supported the Duhawks with a level of excitement never seen before, an excitement that continued as 11 players were returning to the 1983-84 squad. The tradition of success has continued 40 years later.

The Duhawks established a permanent place within Loras’ athletic history: a spot in the Athletics Hall of Fame. 

“It is HUGE that we are recognized and honored this way in the Hall of Fame as one of the winningest teams in Loras College history… 40 years later… It’s like ‘WOW!’… amazing, fun, humbling, and a time to reminisce, reflect, and reconnect as a team that really cared about each other and had each other’s back.”

The 1982-83 men’s basketball team and the rest of the Class of 2022 will be formally inducted into the Loras College Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 7 at the Grand River Center. A social hour starts at 5:30 P.M. with honors set to commence at 6:15 P.M. The link to attend can be found HERE. The inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the Homecoming football game against Buena Vista University on Saturday, Oct. 8 at approximately 1:45 P.M.