Hutton Arena

The Piper men’s and women’s basketball programs and volleyball team have called the historic Hutton Arena their home since the facility first opened in 1937. It has, on occasion, also served as the home venue for HU gymnastics meets. The WIAC Championships/NCGA West Regional was held there in March of 2015.

The facility was originally dedicated as Norton Fieldhouse on January 4, 1937. It was built at the cost of $100,000. Hamline hosted Stanford University in the first game played at Norton, losing 58-26.

It is the second oldest college arena in the state, and with its intimate setting (1800 seats including an upper tier), it is one of Division III basketball's most interesting arenas. It also holds the distinction of being one of the few Division III facilities to have hosted NBA games. The Minneapolis Lakers used Hutton as a site for a few games in the 1950s when their home arena was unavailable. The last game played there was a playoff game against Detroit in March 1959.

In 1967, the fieldhouse was renovated at a cost of $800,000. The old bleachers were torn down and a four-inch thick concrete slab for the base was installed. New fluorescent lights were mounted and the ceiling was painted. A new Tartan floor with a total useable area of nearly 11,000 square feet replaced the wooden floor. New rollaway bleachers and six motorized backboards were also installed.

The Tartan floor was replaced with another Tartan floor in the mid 1970s before the current wood floor was installed in 2000.

The arena has been the scene of many boys and girls' high school section basketball games. It also draws use as a site for commercials. Former Minnesota Timberwolves star Ricky Rubio spent a day there shooting one a couple of years ago.

Led by legendary head coach Joe Hutton, Sr., the Pipers won National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Championships in 1942, 1949, and 1951. Hutton’s career spanned 50 years, 34 of which were spent at Hamline (1931-1965). During that time, Hutton won more games than any other Hamline coach. His overall record stands at 588-186.

He coached the Pipers to 12 NAIA tournament appearances and 19 MIAC Championships (won or shared). Under Hutton, Hamline’s total MIAC record was 347-99.

Seven “Huttonmen” went on to professional basketball careers after their collegiate days. Hutton’s seven pro players were John Norlander, Howie Schultz, Rollie Seltz, Hal Haskins, Vern Mikkelsen, Jim Fritsche, and Joe Hutton, Jr.

Hutton Sr. also had the opportunity for a professional career, but in 1949, he turned down a chance to coach the Minneapolis Lakers to stay at Hamline and coach his older son. Their names are among the list of former Piper greats who are on the Row of Honor at the north end of the building.

Hutton retired in 1965 and in 1986, the field house was renamed the Joe W. Hutton Arena in honor of his phenomenal career at Hamline. A bust of Hutton adorns the lobby.

Joe Hutton, Sr. was the first coach selected to the Helms Foundation Hall of Basketball Immortals, an honor which three of his players later shared. In 1986, he was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame and in 1987 to the NAIA Hall of Fame.

Hamline University is known as the “birthplace of intercollegiate basketball.” Hamline hosted and played in the world’s first intercollegiate basketball game on February 9, 1895. The Pipers took on the School of Agriculture, which was connected with the University of Minnesota, losing by a score of 9-3. Though the rules and the way the game was played are different from today’s game, the game was truly an historic moment, not only for Hamline, but for the future of collegiate basketball.