Ugo Nwaigwe is in her first season with the Iowa women’s basketball program. Nwaigwe was hired as the director of operations in July of 2019.
THE NWAIGWE FILE
- Works closely with the Hawkeye basketball staff, helping coordinate and carry out day-to-day activities of the program
- Responsible for arranging team travel and activities, supervising public service opportunities for the team, and coordinating summer camps and training tables
PRIOR TO IOWA
- Nwaigwe joined the Hawkeyes after spending 2018-19 as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Graceland University.
- Helped the Jackets to a 13-17 overall record, marking the most wins for the program since the 2011-12 season.
- The Jackets opened the season with a 9-1 record – the best start to a season in program history.
- While at Graceland, Nwaigwe assisted in all aspects of the women’s basketball program, including recruiting, skill development, scouting, student-athlete development, and travel coordination.
PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY
- Nwaigwe played professionally overseas in Nigeria, Spain, Angola, Portugal, and Argentina.
- Nigerian National team member in 2016 and 2017.
- She was a 2018 AfroCup Bronze Medalist with the First Bank Club of Nigeria, a 2017 African National Champion with the Nigerian Women’s Senior National Team, and a member of the 2016 Nigerian Women’s Senior National Team.
AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE
- In college, she helped guide her team to the WNIT Elite Eight (2016) and the American Athletic Conference semifinals (2016).
- In 2014, she was named to the Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year. In high school, Nwaigwe was a McDonald All-American nominee.
PERSONAL
- Nwaigwe is a 2016 Temple University master’s graduate with a degree in globalization and development communications
- She obtained her bachelor’s degree in 2015 from Wagner College in sociology, government and politics.