Cooper Koch has had quite the 2026 so far.
The third-year Iowa basketball forward helped lead the Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight in 40 years back in March. He knocked down four three-pointers in Iowa’s upset of top-seeded Florida in the Round of 32. He followed that up by nailing three more triples in the Sweet 16 victory over Nebraska.
Koch was impressive in Iowa’s open practices this offseason, looking like he’ll take another step forward next season. It’s clear he’s put in a lot of work to elevate his game to the next level for Ben McCollum’s squad. But he’s also made some time for fun as well. On Friday night, Koch turned in the black and gold jersey for a black and white one.
The Peoria, Illinois, native threw out the first pitch at the Chicago White Sox game.
Koch got the chance to throw the first pitch because he’s a CHISOX athlete. CHISOX is an NIL program created by the White Sox organization that aims to prioritize athletes’ careers on and off the field. Former Iowa football defensive back John Nestor, Hawkeye wrestler Nasir Bailey, and Dallas Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. are also CHISOX athletes.
The White Sox rode the momentum of Koch’s first pitch to a wild 6-4 walkoff win over the New York Mets.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball star tosses first pitch at Chicago White Sox game
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
