Coach Lickliter is entering his first season at the helm of the Iowa Hawkeye's men's basketball program. Anticipation is high but with realistic expectations, as the team lost some key players to graduation and transfer.
Lickliter is no stranger to rebuilding with a new program. After losing seven players from Butler's successful 2002-03 squad, he found himself as the newly named head coach and started slowly that season with a 4-9 record. With a "no quitting" attitude, he rallied the Bulldogs to 12 wins in their final 17 games, went to the semi-finals of the league tournament and recorded Butler's 11th consecutive winning season.
Lickliter reached 60 career wins along the way, faster than any other coach in Butler basketball history. Only 2 coaches in the history of Division I basketball have turned in a better record after two season. During his tenor at Butler many school records toppled and the Bulldogs continued to climb up in the rankings.
As Butler's coach, Lickliter guided the Bulldogs to a then-school record 26 wins and a third consecutive Horizon League regular season championship. He also led Butler to the title of the Hoosier Classic, hosted by Indiana University, becoming the first team in the 20 year history of the Classic to defeat the Hoosiers. Lickliter directed Butler to the third-highest single season win total in Horizon League history, and a "Top 25" national ranking for the first time in 53 years.