The Iowa Hawkeyes have their guy to lead this team on the court next season, and it is Drake's Ben McCollum. The Iowa City native comes back home to Iowa to take on a Hawkeyes team that hasn't been to the NCAA Tournament in two seasons, hasn't made it past the first weekend since 1999, and hasn't made a Final Four since 1980.
The hire of McCollum comes about a week and a half since Fran McCaffery was relieved of his duties at Iowa after 15 seasons with the Hawkeyes. McCollum also just finished his only season with Drake after a second-round loss to Texas Tech after making it there for the first time since 1971.
Fans are overjoyed to finally have a coach back at the helm in Iowa, especially just in time for the opening of the transfer portal, as the Hawkeyes have been hit hard since the season ended. The Hawkeyes faithful took to social media to give their approval of the hire.
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) March 24, 2025
The Iowa social media department really hit a home run with this hire announcement. Iowa City is about to be sold out of white button-up shirts and gold ties for the foreseeable future.
Everybody pulling up to Carver Hawkeye Arena: pic.twitter.com/HR4aq3VRnW
— Ben McCollum fan (@HireBenMcCollum) March 24, 2025
Carver-Hawkeye Arena is about to be filled with students dressed just like this.
The B10 has brought in some amazing coaching hires so far…
— Hayden_1132 (@DG_Lefty98600) March 24, 2025
Ben McCollum to Iowa
Niko Medved to Minnesota
Darian DeVries to Indiana
Who needs Darian DeVries when we bring a true hometown kid back to Iowa? McCollum is a hometown kid through and through growing up in Iowa City. The Big Ten is going to be very interesting next season, with three former Drake coaches now in the conference.
Another little Iowa basketball connection for Ben McCollum? He played for NIACC (out of Storm Lake-St. Mary's HS) under Steve Krafcisin, who played for the Hawkeyes' last team to make the Final Four (1980).
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) March 24, 2025
I sense a good omen here.
Ben McCollum in one year at D1 already accomplished more in a season than Darian DeVries ever has. Just saying.
— Iowa-Cub (@Iowa_Cub) March 24, 2025
McCollum was able to lead his team to the NCAA Tournament and past the first round, unlike DeVries. He also won the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and both a regular season and tournament championship. DeVries missed the NCAA Tournament in his first season as the West Virginia head coach.
Ben McCollum hire is huge for Iowa and is the first time I am excited about there basketball team since Luka Garza
— Larry legend (@LarryLegend309) March 24, 2025
A lot of Iowa fans are going to find themselves excited for basketball season again.
what a way to announce Ben McCollum to Iowa.
— brandie (@brandieeemac) March 24, 2025
amazing hire. https://t.co/wV3izCLk8I
The social media department again really hit this announcement. Iowa fans are so excited to start this new era for Iowa basketball. All the love and respect goes to Fran McCaffery to get this program out of the dumps, but now it is time for a change, and McCollum seems like the perfect guy to bring the Hawkeyes into this new world of college basketball.