Tim Floyd announced on Tuesday, June 4, that Steve Krafcisin, who served under Johnny Orr, is returning to ISU as an assistant basketball coach.

Krafcisin coached as an assistant at Loras College in Dubuque before working under Orr from 1987-94.

Krafcisin has been working as an assistant coach at the University of North Dakota for the past two seasons.

But Karfcisin’s basketball knowledge ranges far beyond the coaching ranks.

As a freshman at North Carolina, Krafcisin was a member of the 1976-77 Tar Heel team that finished 25-8 and lost in the national championship game to Marquette. Karfcisin then tansfered to Iowa following that season and sat out his 1977-78 campaign.

While at Iowa, Karfcisin was a member of the 1978-79 Hawkeye Big Ten Championship team while also helping the Hawks to the Final Four during his 1979-80 season. By the time Krafcisin finished at Iowa, he had collected three letters from then head coach Lute Olson, while earning all-Big Ten honors his junior and senior years.

After college Krafcisin tested the waters of professional basketball in Italy for three months before signing with the Atlantic City High Rollers of the Continental Basketball League in the 1981-82 season.

Krafcisin also worked as an activity specialist at the Iowa Penetentiary and as a recreation therapist at a teenage alcohol and drug center in Dyersville. “We’re excited to have Steve join our staff,” said Floyd.

“He has a great knowledge of Iowa State, as well as the Big 12 Conference.”

Krafcisin replaces Terry Reed, who resigned earlier this summer to join former Iowa State assistant James Green’s coaching staff at Southern Mississippi.