UMD Head Men’s Basketball Coach Justin Wieck Talks Return to Iowa City

Wieck played two seasons at the University of Iowa.

DULUTH, Minn.- A special weekend awaits UMD head men’s basketball coach Justin Wieck.

Wieck is set to lead his team against his alma mater Iowa in an exhibition game on Friday night.

He spent two seasons playing for the Hawkeyes and also played a part in two NCAA tournament berths.

Wieck said he wouldn’t be the coach he is today if it wasn’t for current Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery.

“Fran McCaffery got there, he gave me some great advice. He really encouraged me to just get out and go experience something else. All I had known was Iowa basketball growing up and coaching. I may have not liked that answer at the time. But looking back, and I told him this before, it was a great move for myself and my family just to get out and go experience division two basketball in Aberdeen and it’s led to my career so far,” said Wieck.

Friday’s exhibition will also give some players the opportunity to face D1 level competition for the first time.

“I think for us, obviously I can’t speak for everyone but it will be fun to kind of find the happy medium there. Seeing how we do matchup against a team like this but also knowing that a game like this doesn’t come very often for us. So enjoying the moment while we’re in it and just going out there having as much fun as we can and try to compete our tails off at the same time,” said forward Mattie Thompson.

The Bulldogs and Hawkeyes tip things off at 7 PM on Friday.