Josh Sash

Josh Sash is entering his second season as an assistant coach with the University of Iowa men's basketball program.  

The Oskaloosa, Iowa, native has 23 years of coaching experience at all levels, including head coaching stints at Indian Hills Community College (2023-24) and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) (2019-20).   

During his first season in Iowa City, Sash helped guide the Hawkeyes to the program's first Elite Eight appearance in 39 years and its first Sweet 16 since 1999. As a No. 9 seed, Iowa downed three higher-seeded teams -- No. 8 Clemson, No. 1 Florida and No. 4 Nebraska.  The Hawkeyes led their South Region title game with seven minutes remaining with a Final Four spot on the line.

Iowa's 73-72 win over top-seeded Florida gave the Hawkeyes their second victory all-time against a defending national champion. Iowa became the ninth No. 9 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed and just the sixth No. 9 seed all-time to advance to the Elite Eight.

The Hawkeyes finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-13 overall record, with the 24 victories tying for the fifth-most in a single season in program history.  The team finished the season ranked 15th in the final Associated Press poll.

Iowa, which featured 12 transfers among its 14-player roster, won three NCAA Tournament games in 2026; by comparison, the program had combined for just four NCAA Tournament wins over the previous 24 seasons.

Senior guard Bennett Stirtz, who made the jump from Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa City, was as good as advertised. Stirtz earned honorable mention All-America honors from The Associated Press and the USBWA, alongside first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media after averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds.  He played 40 or more minutes 17 times during the season and finished with a program record 1,396 minutes.

Stirtz elevated his game from a second-team All-MIAA selection at the Division II level to an All-American in the Big Ten.  He was the only player in the nation to record 730+ points, 160+ assists, 95+ rebounds, 90+ 3-pointers and 50+ steals, becoming one of just three Power Conference players all-time to post those single-season numbers.

Stirtz became the first Hawkeye with 700+ points, 100+ assists and 50+ steals in a season and just the third Hawkeye ever to score 700+ points.  His 734 total points were the fourth-most in a single season in Iowa history.

Stirtz was selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft with the 16th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.  He is the third point guard in Hawkeye history to be selected in the first round.

Sash followed head coach Ben McCollum to Iowa City after spending the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach at Drake. He helped guide the Bulldogs to a school-record 31 victories, a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season and tournament title and an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by way of a 67-57 upset win over sixth-seeded Missouri.

Sash helped rebuild the Drake roster, as the Bulldogs brought in a combined 10 transfers and first-year players. Under their guidance, Stirtz named the MVC Larry Bird Player and Newcomer of the Year, while being named a finalist for the Riley Wallace and Lou Henson Awards.

Prior to his arrival at Drake, Sash led Indian Hills Community College to the semifinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Men’s Basketball Championship as head coach, anchoring a 29-6 record. It was the program’s 19th trip to the national tournament in its history.

Sash was tabbed as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) DI Coach of the Year after going 4-0 in league play while capturing the NJCAA Region 11 Championship. Throughout the year, he guided the Warriors to 15 wins over nationally ranked opponents.  Sash also previously served as an assistant coach for Indian Hills from 2015-17.

Before returning to Ottumwa as head coach, Sash spent three seasons as an assistant at North Dakota State. There, Sash was part of a Bison staff that made three consecutive Summit League Tournament Championship game appearances. NDSU won 54 games in those three seasons, including 35 in Summit League play.

Sash also had a stint as an assistant at UMKC from 2017-19 before taking over as head coach at DMACC for the 2019-20 season. Sash led the Bears to a 29-4 record, the ICCAC regular and postseason championships and the No. 2 seed in the national tournament.  He was named the NJCAA Region 11 Coach of the Year and guided five NJCAA All-Region 11 performers and four NJCAA All-Academic selections.

Sash also spent time on staff at State Fair Community College (2010-15), Temple College (2009-10), Providence College (2008-09) and Drake (2007-08), while starting as a student assistant at William Penn (2003-07).

Sash earned his associate’s degree in computer programming/analysis from Indian Hills in 2001, his bachelor’s degree in physical education/coaching from William Penn in 2006 and his master’s in education in effective teaching from Drake in 2009. 

He and his wife, Analeigh, have three children – Tandon, Tayson and Tru.

Sash is the older brother of the late former Hawkeye two-time first-team All-Big Ten safety Tyler Sash.  Tyler, who shares the program’s single-game interception record (3), played professionally for the NFL’s New York Giants, where he was a Super Bowl champion in 2012.

Career
2003-07	Student Assistant, William Penn
2007-08	Graduate Assistant, Drake
2008-09	Video Coordinator, Providence College
2009-10	Assistant Coach, Temple College
2010-15	Assistant Coach, State Fair Community College
2015-17	Assistant Coach, Indian Hills Community College
2017-19	Assistant Coach, University of Missouri-Kansas City
2019-20	Head Coach, Des Moines Area Communiy College
2020-23	Assistant Coach, North Dakota State
2023-24	Head Coach, Indian Hills Community College
2024-25	Assistant Coach, Drake
2025-pres.	Assistant Coach, University of Iowa