Iowa basketball coach Steve Alford has hired two new assistant coaches. Tim Buckley spent six years as the head coach at Ball State but was let go this past season after the Cardinals posted a record of 10-18.

Buckley is a native of Aurora, Illinois and has spent his entire coaching career in the midwest. Buckley says he’s known Alford for a long time and this is an exciting opportunity.

Buckley started at Wisconsin, then went to Ball State and on to Marquette. Buckley also has extensive experience recruiting the Chicago area. He says you want to start recruiting in your own backyard and work your way out. Buckley says Chicago has a lot of good recruits.

Alford also has hired former Seton Hall assistant Billy Garrett. The native of Indianapolis was also a head coach in the high school ranks in Chicago. Buckley and Garrett replace Rich Walker and Greg Lansing who were let go last month.