Right after the Iowa Hawkeyes fell 72-69 to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Tournament, the spotlight turned to more than just the scoreboard.
Bennett Stirtz’s father, Roger, spoke up with emotion that quickly spread across social media.
“We’re truly sorry, But my son gave everything he had. He fought until the last second. I just hope people can try to understand.”
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Roger added,
“People see the scoreboard. They don’t always see the emotional and mental pressure behind every possession.”
In that moment, the whole country got a peek at the love and support Bennett Stirtz’s parents have always given him.
Bennett Stirtz Parents, Roger and Renee Stirtz, built their Family around Sports, Hard work, and Strong Bonds
The Stirtz couple has been married for 34 years and raised four sons in Liberty, Missouri, Mason, Caden, Bennett, and Cooper.
Their home was never quiet. The boys battled each other on the driveway, and in the gym, Roger coached.
Bennett was born on October 3, 2003, and grew up right in the middle of that competitive fire.
Roger Stirtz played college basketball at Emporia State University in Kansas.
He then became one of Missouri’s most respected high school coaches, leading the Liberty varsity boys team for more than 20 years.
The same gym where he taught kids became the daily proving ground for his own four sons. Roger spotted something special in Bennett early.
Whether it was youth basketball or flag football, the boy always seemed to understand the moment and what the team needed.
“He would size up the situation and sense what had to be done,”
Roger has said. He never saw it as selfish, just smart basketball.
Renee Stirtz ran track at Kansas State University. She spent more than 30 years working in the Liberty Public Schools district, mostly at Ridgeview Elementary.
Her athletic background gave Bennett that smooth stride and endless stamina fans now call “Ironman” toughness.
He often plays almost the entire game without tiring. Renee once described the family’s vacation style perfectly:
“Our vacations to a large majority of the population would not be considered restful. It’s how we relax, by being really active.”
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The Stirtz crew tackled tough hikes and mountain adventures instead of beach chairs. The boys pushed each other.
Mason has climbed multiple Colorado 14ers, Caden once ran the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim in a single day, and Cooper earned the nickname “part mountain goat” for his climbing skills.
Bennett even ran track in eighth grade and posted a strong 800-meter time, but basketball won out.
The whole family stayed active and close. Roger and Renee made sure fitness and competition came first, but they also taught loyalty and heart.
Bennett’s brothers still cheer loudest for him. Mason, the oldest, played safety at Liberty High and graduated in 2016.
He earned a mechanical engineering degree from Kansas State University in 2019 and now works as a staff mechanical engineer at Burns & McDonnell. He married Carly Schott in 2020.
Cooper, the youngest, followed in the family footsteps, too.
He played varsity basketball at Liberty High, wearing number 20 as a shooting guard, and graduated in 2025.
Not much is out there yet about Caden’s current path, but he grew up right in the mix of all those driveway battles.
Bennett himself Shined at Liberty High School
Coached by his dad, he earned two-time Missouri Class 6 all-state honors, won Suburban Gold Conference Player of the Year, and led the team to a second-place finish in the 2021 state championship.
At Northwest Missouri State, he picked up two second-team all-league nods and earned 2022-23 MIAA Freshman of the Year while averaging 12.6 points and setting a freshman steals record in NCAA Division II.
He later became the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year at Drake before transferring to Iowa for the 2025-26 season to follow longtime coach Ben McCollum.
Now the 6-foot-4 guard stands out for his isolation scoring, efficient shooting, and that nonstop motor. He has stepped up as a key scorer and playmaker, earning All-Big Ten buzz.
Through every step, high school titles, college jumps, and now the bright lights of the Big Ten, Bennett Stirtz parents have stayed steady.
Roger and Renee never chased the spotlight, they just showed up, coached quietly, and reminded their son to play with heart.
Even after the tough tournament loss, their message reminded fans that basketball is about more than points.
It’s about family, pressure, and giving everything you have.
The Stirtz family has Bennett’s back, especially in the hard moments. That’s the real story behind this Hawkeye standout.
Roger and Renee didn’t just raise a talented player, they raised a young man who fights to the final buzzer, knowing his parents are always in his corner.
