New Iowa Men's Basketball Head Coach Ben McCollum has high expectations before playing a single game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The new man in charge must take a faltering Iowa Basketball program and turn it around.
The Hawkeyes had a dreadful end to the season, going 2-5 down the stretch. Iowa finished the 2024-2025 season with a 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten) record. After the season ended, the Hawkeyes promptly fired long-time Head Coach Fran McCaffery, and McCollum replaced him.
It is always difficult to replace a long-time head coach, especially when most of the roster leaves with them. McCollum sat down with OnIowa Live to discuss how the transition is going and the program's status.
Iowa Men's Basketball Coach Ben McCollum stopped by OnIowa Live Monday night. You can hear what he said about building his team and the fan enthusiasm to go with it.https://t.co/MrsXCmprgW
— KCRG Sports (@KCRG_Sports) April 15, 2025
The importance of good coaching
Throughout the April 14 interview, McCollum stressed that good coaching will get the Iowa program where it needs to be. He noted his time at Division II Northwest Missouri State prepared him for the challenging times ahead.
McCollum stated that, as a whole, Div. II coaches are better. He did not say everyone is better, but noted they have to make more adjustments from year to year. Div. II coaches must adjust every season because their personnel is always changing.
McCollum stated that within the current Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) landscape, it is harder to recruit and retain players. There are multiple phenomonal coaches in the MIAA beacause they have to work with what they are given.
If a big-time basketball program goes after a player you like, they can offer them more money or better opportunities. You must work with what you are given.
McCollum noted he places a high value on player development, which falls on the coaches. If they can establish a culture and get the players to buy in, they will succeed.
The transfer portal
A large portion of the interview centered around the transfer portal. The transfer portal has become a staple of college athletics, and McCollum addressed how he utilizes it. He stated his approach is simple: establish a culture and make it known to the players.
During the recruiting process, McCollum tells potential prospects that he wants to make them better people so they can be successful when they leave the program. He noted that if he can make recruits better people when they arrive in Iowa City, the basketball part will fall into place.
He said it is shockingly difficult to navigate the portal, but it is something that must be done. He values relationships and player development, but it can be a tough sell to recruits when a different program can offer them more NIL money.
McCollum stated you must find a unique skill set, one that fits your program's philosophy. At the beginning of the recruiting process, he targets players with good intangibles. If the player has good character, he can work with their on-court skills. If they are bad people and bad basketball players, there will be issues.
The prospect evaluation process is critical to success. He has had to up his game on the recruiting trail due to the "supply and demand issue" of the portal.
There are not a lot of great players in the portal, but the demand is high. Therefore, coaches have to find specific traits that they value highly and develop them.
McCollum stated he is lucky to have five Drake players follow him because they are good players and can help establish a culture.
The importance of fan involvement
Every time McCollum is in front of a microphone, he stresses the same idea: the fans and community must be involved for the rebuild to succeed. He jokingly said Drake fans got behind his team because they won a lot.
While winning helps the cause, McCollum implored Iowa fans to fill the stands when they perform well or poorly. Iowa fans must connect with the coaches and players so the team can feel their support.
McCollum said they will do their part by winning games, but the fans must do their part by showing support for the program. Iowa fans have pride in their teams and must show it by showing up.
McCollum stated the fans and community are crucial to the rebuilding program.
McCollum has a lot of pressure on his shoulders before the 2025-2026 season begins. He is taking it in stride, and could not be happier to be the head coach of Iowa Men's Basketball.