Kirk Speraw left the Hawkeyes as a two-time letter winner under Head Coach Lute Olson. He became a graduate assistant the year following his playing career ending. The following year in 1980, Speraw went to Denver University as an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, where he remained through the 1981-1982 season. He then went to Florida Southern from 1982-1987 as an Assistant Coach at the Division II school. He left for his first Head Coaching position at Pensacola Junior College in 1987. After leading his team to a conference championship in each of his three seasons and being named the National Junior College Coach of the Year his final season, Speraw joined the University of Florida coaching staff as an Assistant under Head Coach Lon Kruger. He remained on the staff through the 1983 season, but left for the University of Central Florida as Head Coach. Speraw remained there for 17 years and took his team to the NCAA Tournament five different times. He was also named the Conference USA Coach of the Year for the 2006-2007 season. In 2010, Speraw returned to his alma mater as an Assistant Coach under new Head Coach Fran McCaffery.