Collector: Luke Mozena, University of Iowa Recreational Services Facility Operations Coordinator
Collection Title: Sneakers

Collector Statement:

"I have always had a heightened interest in shoes for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t really start caring or collecting until my first year of high school. I would routinely ask my dad for just about every signature basketball shoe that was released. He quickly grew tired of this routine and told me I needed to get a job and buy them myself. To this day, I think he just wanted me to stop asking, but I called his bluff and started working just to take that excuse out of his arsenal. I was also unaware that at 14, you are required to get a work permit, which needed a signature from my parents and my middle school principal. After going through all those steps, fully calling my father’s bluff, it would have been easier to send my paychecks directly to various sneaker companies. 

Playing basketball in high school was the easiest and most fun reason to continue collecting. From my sophomore through senior seasons, I wore a different pair for every game. I would always take two pairs to every game and make a split decision at the last possible moment. As I sit writing this, I do not know the exact number of shoes I have. The last time I recall the exact number was in 2015. I officially hit 250 pairs at the conclusion of my first year at Iowa. One notable pair is the Air Jordan X “Steel” from 2013. This pair is extremely special to me, as it’s the first pair I ever camped out for. On a brisk October night in 2013, I waited outside the Cedar Falls Scheels with a dozen others just to make sure I got my correct size. The second pair in my collection is a Nike Air Trainer 1 P.E. made for NBA All-Star, and my favorite player, Brandon Roy. Over the years, I’ve been able to make friends through collecting, and it truly paid off when I was able to get my favorite player’s exclusive shoe in my size."

Image Gallery:

Featured Collections Items:

  • Air Jordan X “Steel”
  • Nike Air Trainer One “Brandon Roy P.E.” 
  • Nike Kobe 5 “Lakers Home” 
  • Air Jordan IV “30th Anniversary Laser”
  • Nike Kobe 11 Elite “Mark Parker” 
  • Nike Kobe 11 Elite "Tinker Hatfield”
  • New Balance 530 “Evan Longoria”
  • Nike x Stranger Things Cortez
     
    Want a better look? Guests can view Luke's collection on the First Floor of Macbride Hall, just south of Iowa Hall, February 2025 - May 2025.