Former MBB Coach Zeke Hogeland Passes Away

Former University of Northern Iowa men's basketball coach Wesley Dean "Zeke" Hogeland passed away early on Oct. 26 in Hot Springs, Ark. Hogeland was 89.

Hogeland, a native of Marshalltown, served as as the UNI men's basketball coach from 1967-1973. He succeeded Norm Stewart and proceeded Jim Berry in the UNI coaching line.

"He was a really good guy and he cared a lot about his players," said Bill Smith, who played for Hogeland from 1969-1973. "He was always concerned about our well-being off the court. He would do anything to assist his players in any regard to help make them better human beings."

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Hogeland compiled a coaching mark of 70-74 during his six years with the Panthers. He led the Panthers to a mark of 15-7 in 1967-68 and followed that up with a 15-9 mark in 1968-69. Hogeland led the Panthers to a 13-12 record in the 1969-70 season. Hogeland closed out his coaching career at UNI in the 1972-73 season, a year in which the Panthers won their final three contests.

"He was a great recruiter because we had seven all-state players in my recruiting class as a freshman," Smith said. "I remember being in the first class of freshmen being eligible to play (1969-70) and we would play a freshmen game and follow it up by suiting up for the varsity game. We went down and beat Iowa that year in a freshmen game. We really did have a lot of talent and Zeke went out and assembled that talent."

He was born Nov. 25, 1925. He married the former Gretchen Honor Glover and the couple had three children (Wesley Dean II, Cindy Jo and Scott Glover).

He lettered in football, basketball and track at Marshalltown High School. He captained the Bobcat basketball team in 1943-44.

After graduation he entered the United States Air Force and served two years for his country.

In 1946 he entered the State College of Iowa and earned a starting guard spot midway through his freshman season. He started and lettered for three straight seasons at SCI under head coach O.M. "Hon" Nordly. He played on a pair of North Central Conference championship teams as a junior and a senior. He earned his undergraduate degree in August 1949.

Hogeland's first coaching position came at Decorah High School with Jerry Reichow serving as one of his top stars.

He took graduate work at the University of Iowa after one year at Decorah. He then became the basketball coach at Washington High School in 1951 and stayed four years. He eventually earned his master's degree in physical education from the University of Iowa in 1955.

In 1955 he moved to Mason City Junior College where his seven teams netted a 105-24 record. His 1960-61 Mason City team took second in the state junior college field, but then won the title the next year.

He was named head coach at Bemidji State College in 1962 and posted a mark of 57-34 in five seasons.

A graveside service was held Oct. 29 in Hot Springs, Ark.

Gross Funeral Home
120 Wrights Lane
Hot Springs, AR 71913

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