Ben McCollum Named Iowa Men's Basketball Head Coach

The Iowa native joins the Hawkeyes after leading Drake to a historic 31-win season and NCAA Tournament success in his first year.

Ben McCollum, a 43-year-old Iowa native, has been officially hired as the new head coach for the Iowa men's basketball program, replacing Fran McCaffery after 15 seasons.
McCollum led Drake to a 31-4 record, winning the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and reaching the NCAA Tournament's second round in his lone season with the Bulldogs.
Prior to Drake, McCollum achieved significant success at Division II Northwest Missouri State, winning four national championships and earning five national Coach of the Year awards over 15 years.
Iowa's basketball program has faced challenges in recent years, including declining attendance, recruiting struggles, and missing the NCAA Tournament for two consecutive seasons.
McCollum's coaching style emphasizes a slow tempo, strong defense, and offensive rebounding, which contributed to Drake's standout performance this season.