Even though star guard Bennett Stirtz only played one season for the Hawkeyes, he made a lasting impact on the program.
He helped Ben McCollum establish a foundation for continued success, including the program's first Elite Eight appearance since 1987. Stirtz was the straw that stirred the drink for the Hawkeyes, proving he was not just a one-year wonder with the Drake Bulldogs.
During his only season with the Hawkeyes, Stirtz earned All-Big Ten First-Team (media) and All-Big Ten Second-Team (coaches) selections, leading the Hawkeyes in points (19.8), assists (4.4), and steals (1.4) per game last season. Stirtz is now preparing for his NBA future, but stories are still coming out about his time with the Hawkeyes.
Stirtz reportedly tried to give back some of his NIL money
After being named the Missouri Valley Conference MVP following the 2024-2025 season, Stirtz could have gotten the bag from multiple big programs. For Stirtz, it was a no-brainer to follow McCollum to Iowa, even though they couldn't give him as much NIL money as other programs.
McCollum was transparent with what the program could offer him in NIL money, but it was never about the money for Stirtz.
Coach Ben McCollum shares a great story on Bennett Stirtz. pic.twitter.com/JDDYftQk4z
— Jordan M. Montgomery (@JMMontgomeryCo) June 2, 2026
In a great story about Stirtz's recruitment and eventual commitment to the Iowa program, McCollum revealed that he told him he couldn't offer as much money as some other programs, and Stirtz responded that he actually wanted to give some of the money back.
He wanted to give some of the money back so McCollum and the coaching staff could "build the right team," making him one of the few players to do so. McCollum ultimately turned down his generous offer, stating that he already gave up a lot to join him in Iowa City.
McCollum capped off the story, stating that Stirtz is a prime example of the kids he wants to recruit because he had undeniable leadership. Stirtz is going to be extremely hard to replace as he prepares to hear his name called during the 2026 NBA Draft, and it cannot be overstated how much he meant to the program in McCollum's first season at the helm. Without Stirtz, there is absolutely no way Iowa gets as far as it did last season.
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