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Hawk Central Hour

HawkCentral.com
Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Women's Basketball
Iowa Football
Iowa Men's Basketball
Iowa
Big Ten Conference
NCAA Tournament
Tim Lester
Kirk Ferentz
Mark Gronowski
Cade Mcnamara
Big Ten
Transfer Portal
Caitlin Clark
Ben Mccollum
Caleb Johnson
Iowa State
NIL
Hawkeyes
College Football

Des Moines Register Hawkeyes columnist Chad Leistikow leads the conversation with our beat writers and frequent special guests to discuss the latest in Iowa football, men's and women's basketball and more.

Follow coverage from the entire Hawk Central team at hawkcentral.com or with the Hawk Central app.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes300Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for Hawk Central Hour

Latest Episodes

Two days after Iowa defeated Iowa State, 16-13, the Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman review what we've learned about the Hawkeyes through two games. Chad also wonders, does Iowa now have to go 11-1 if it wants to be a playoff team?

That was closer than expected, but the Iowa football program moves to 2-0 with a 16-13 win against Iowa State. The Register's Tyler Tachman and Chad Leistikow forge into the wee hours of Sunday morning to recap the good and the bad from the Hawkeyes'... more

We are deep into Cy-Hawk week, and the Hawkeyes have all the pressure as a two-touchdown favorite. What other story lines are dominating our thoughts heading into this game? The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman answer questions about quart... more

Hey folks, this is the FULL version of the Hawk Central show on Monday ... the first version got cut off at 23 minutes for some reason. This is Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman on Iowa QBs, the defense and more heading into Iowa vs. Iowa State on Sat... more

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Recent Guests

Jay Niemann
Iowa Assistant Defensive Line Coach
University of Iowa
Episode: Hawk Central: Iowa basketball ramps up schedule, 1-on-1 with Jay Niemann
Sean Bock
Basketball analyst for 247Sports
247Sports
Episode: Talking all things Iowa men's basketball with Sean Bock
Sean Sullivan
General manager and assistant coach, defensive stalwart of the Hawkeye women's basketball program
Iowa Hawkeye Women's Basketball
Episode: Hawk Central: Sitdown with Iowa women's basketball assistant coaches LaSondra Barrett, Sean Sullivan
LaSondra Barrett
Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator
Iowa Hawkeye Women's Basketball
Episode: Hawk Central: Sitdown with Iowa women's basketball assistant coaches LaSondra Barrett, Sean Sullivan
Lysandra Barrett
Recruiting Coordinator, Iowa Women's Basketball
Iowa Women's Basketball Program
Episode: Hawk Central 5 20 2026
Ben McCollum
Head coach of Iowa men's basketball; featured in an on-air one-on-one
Iowa Hawkeyes
Episode: Hawk Central 5 6 2026
Dargan Southerner
Women's basketball writer
Des Moines Register
Episode: Hawk Central: Unpacking Kirk Ferentz's NCAA violation ruling, Iowa basketball portal heats up
Tyler Tachman
Beat writer for Des Moines Register, contributes to Hawk Central coverage
Des Moines Register
Episode: Iowa basketball stuns defending champion Florida to reach first Sweet 16 since 1999
Dargan Southard
Iowa women's basketball beat writer
Hawkeye Hoops / Des Moines Register
Episode: Hawk Central: Iowa basketball, wrestling teams reach ultimate NCAA tests

Hosts

Chad Leistikow
Host and Des Moines Register Hawkeyes columnist with Hawk Central coverage and multiple roles on Hawk Central Radio/Hour
Tyler Tachman
Co-host and Hawk Central contributor, regular on Hawk Central Radio/Hour

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 250 ratings
  • Solid

    Chad is prepared, knowledgeable and comes across a pleasant guy who is easy to listen to. My critique is I wish he wouldn’t constantly giggle/laugh so much at things that are not funny or even intended to be humorous.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Pretzel Hawk
    United States2 years ago
  • Good pod but..

    Maybe add some episode descriptions?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    asgrehbdheh
    United States3 years ago
  • Great Perspective on the Hawks

    This is a great podcast and I look forward to the new episode dropping each week. My only problem is I can’t hear Tyler. I turn the volume up as loud as I can and it still sounds like he’s 3 feet away from the mic. Hoping that can be dialed in because I really enjoy hearing from both of you.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lifetime Hawk Fan
    United States3 years ago
  • 11/29 episode

    It was great until cyclone talk with Randy Petersen started on top of Tyler and Chad’s conversation around the 23 min mark.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Andy2222222222
    United States3 years ago
  • Top content all the time

    Chad does a great job touching the relevant topics by keeping an honest, fair opinion. He looks at it from Kirk/Fran/Lisa’s perspective, but gives an honest assessment of where each program and Iowa athletics are as a whole. Look forward to the podcast every week and can’t wait for football season to start again!

    Enjoyed Kensington’s SEC takes on the big ten and wish him nothing but the best. Looking forward to what Tyler brings to the table.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Johnnnnnnnnnnyyokkkk
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the insider access and coach/interview content.
Fans like the mix of analytics with casual banter.
Some reviews note sound quality and volume inconsistencies.
Critiques often mention occasional sound/balancing issues or desire for more episode descriptions.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hawk Central: Can Hawkeyes finally win a 'big game' against Penn State?
Q: What should Phil Parker's plan be in facing Penn State backup quarterback Ethan Grunkmeyer?
Play conservatively early to let Grunkmeyer settle in, then escalate pressure in the later stages as Iowa's defense tries to force mistakes without overcommitting early.
Hawk Central: A tricky test as Iowa looks to improve to 6-2 vs. Minnesota
Q: Will Iowa throw a touchdown pass for the first time in Big Ten play this season?
The hosts forecast that Iowa will likely rely on the running game and may not throw a passing touchdown in this particular Big Ten matchup, though they acknowledge the possibility of a screen or big-play pass if the defense overplays the run.
Hawk Central: Oregon surge for Iowa men; California swoon for Hawkeye women
Q: How did Bennett Stirtz adapt to the higher level of competition at Iowa compared with Drake?
Stirtz's efficiency, especially his 12-for-15 shooting against Oregon, showed he could translate his talent to the Big Ten level, with the hosts noting his calm decision-making and strong finish around the rim as pivotal to his successful transition.
Hawk Central: Previewing Iowa-Nebraska in men's Sweet 16; abrupt women's end in NCAAs
Q: How did the Florida win influence confidence and what are the concerns heading into the Nebraska game?
The win boosted belief that Iowa can win high-pressure, road-like environments, but concerns remain about crowd influence, potential matchups, and the need to avoid getting rattled by external attention.
Hawk Central: On Addie Deal's departure, portal preview for Iowa men's basketball
Q: How might Iowa approach the portal in building the 2026-27 roster?
They discuss prioritizing a proven point guard and a big, while also considering a veteran leader who can stabilize the locker room and elevate younger players, plus leveraging internal development to complement new additions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hawk Central Hour

What is Hawk Central Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show takes a Hawks-centric view of Iowa athletics, pairing insider analysis with guest expertise to cover football and both men's and women's basketball, plus occasional cross-over topics. Episodes balance roster moves, coaching strategies, and program-wide context—often tying in coverage from the Des Moines Register Hawk Central team and rotating guest experts to illuminate development, recruiting, and scheduling decisions. Noteworthy is the mix of in-depth coaching interviews, strategic roster discussion, and light, on-air chemistry that makes the analysis approachable for hardcore fans and casual listeners alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to Hawk Central Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hawk Central Hour:

1. Hawkeye Report Podcast
2. Swarmcast: An Iowa Hawkeyes podcast
3. The ANF Podcast
4. Washed Up Walkons
5. Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball

How many episodes of Hawk Central Hour are there?

Hawk Central Hour launched 11 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Hawk Central Hour?

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What guests have appeared on Hawk Central Hour?

Recent guests on Hawk Central Hour include:

1. Jay Niemann
2. Sean Bock
3. Sean Sullivan
4. LaSondra Barrett
5. Lysandra Barrett
6. Ben McCollum
7. Dargan Southerner
8. Tyler Tachman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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