The head coaching search in Iowa City is reportedly over. A recent report by 247 Sports states that Ben McCollum is on the verge of signing a contract to be the next head coach for Iowa Men's Basketball.
The Hawkeyes fired long-time Head Coach Fran McCaffery after Iowa went 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten) this season and missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. McCaffery had been the head coach for 15 years.
McCollum will reportedly leave Drake after guiding the Bulldogs to a 30-4 record and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Sources: Iowa in process of finalizing a deal with Drake head coach Ben McCollum: https://t.co/9jWfQg6x3g
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) March 23, 2025
After jumping from Division II Northwest Missouri State University to Drake University, Ben McCollum is considered a rising star in coaching.
McCollum was extremely successful at Northwest Missouri State. The Storm Lake, Iowa native compiled a 394-91 record in 15 seasons as the Bearcats head coach. This included 12 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) regular season titles, and eight MIAA Conference Championship titles.
While McCollum was head coach, the Bearcats won four Division II Nation Championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022) and won 30-plus games in five seasons. That includes a perfect 38-0 season in 2018-2019.
McCollum was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Coach of the Year five times (most all-time) and the MIAA Coach of the Year nine times.
He was elected to the Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024 before joining the Drake Bulldogs.
If McCollum takes the job with Iowa, he takes over a program that never made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament under Fran McCaffery. McCollum has shown he can win at the highest level with his championship pedigree at Northwest Missouri State.
McCollum will also have to improve recruiting in Iowa City. After his time at Northwest Missouri State, he is a proven recruiter.
McCollum coached two National Players of the Year, six NABC All-Americans, six MIAA Players of the Year, three MIAA Defensive Players of the Year, and five All-Freshman selections.
McCollum is a tough recruiter and is staunch with the players he recruits. His teams are always near the top in defensive and offensive efficiency. Since the 2018-2019 season, McCollum's teams ranked first in offensive efficiency at the end of every season.
Ben McCollum has an impressive resume, and the Iowa Hawkeyes would be lucky to have him. He will bring his toughness and championship pedigree to Iowa City as he attempts to add more silverware to the trophy case.