Upper Iowa University Athletics

Bill Prochaska, class of 1963, entered Upper Iowa University following a four-year tour in the United States Air Force. He was a three-year letter winner in basketball, while being named a team captain during his senior year and also earning a letter in baseball.
He was a teacher and coach at Buffalo Center High School from 1963 to 11971. He earned his master’s degree from Mankato State University and has coached and represented Upper Iowa University student-athletes at more than 1,000 athletic contests since 1971.

For 21 years, Prochaska was the head men’s basketball coach at Upper Iowa, while also coaching baseball for 16 years, women’s golf since 1990 and men’s goal since 1994. He served as athletic director, physical education department chair and division chair of education. He has coached all-conference players in basketball (14), baseball (21), golf (2), and three All-Americans. Under his direction, the Peacocks earned two conference titles in baseball and qualified for NAIA playoffs twice in basketball. He was selected on two occasions to coach the Small College Seniors and the Iowa College Seniors in all-Star games.

Prochaska is currently an associate professor of physical education at Upper Iowa. He was inducted into the Iowa High School Basketball Hall of Fame (players) in 1993 and the Iowa Athletic Coaches Association Softball Umpire Hall of Fame in 1992.

He and his wife, Janet, live in Fayette. They are the parents of two children, Melissa and Mike. Mike is a 1989 graduate of Upper Iowa, where he also participated in golf and baseball, and served as his father’s student assistant in basketball.