'Dream come true': Iowa native Ben McCollum to coach Hawkeyes

Field Level Media|published: Mon 24th March, 12:07 2025

Mar 20, 2025; Wichita, KS, USA; Drake Bulldogs head coach Ben McCollum in the first half of a first round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Missouri Tigers at Intrust Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

Iowa named Drake's Ben McCollum as its basketball coach on Monday, returning him to his native state.

He replaces Fran McCaffery, who was fired by the Hawkeyes on March 14 after 15 seasons with the program.

McCollum, who turns 44 next month, was born in Iowa City and raised in Storm Lake, Iowa.

"Returning to Iowa City as the head coach of the Hawkeyes is a dream come true for me and my family," he said. "The passion of Hawkeye fans is unmatched, and I am incredibly excited to get started on this new journey together."

He comes to Iowa after one season at Drake, which he led to the NCAA Tournament after guiding the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley regular season and conference tournament titles in his first year with the program. Drake finished with a 31-4 record after dropping a 77-64 setback to Texas Tech in the second round of the tournament on Saturday.

A No. 11 seed, Drake upset No. 6 Missouri 67-57 in the first round on Thursday.

He previously spent 15 seasons with NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State University, helping his alma mater capture four national championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022).

During his 16-year coaching career, McCollum has amassed a record of 426-95 (.818).

"We are excited to welcome Coach McCollum and his family back to Iowa City," Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said. "Ben has a track record of success both on and off the court. His talent for developing student-athletes and fostering a strong team culture has been evident throughout his career.

"I am confident that Hawkeye fans will enthusiastically support the McCollum family as we embark on the next chapter of Iowa men's basketball."

McCollum's hiring leaves Drake looking for a new coach for the second year in a row. He replaced Darian DeVries, who led the Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournament appearances in six seasons and departed to become the head coach at West Virginia.

Last week, DeVries accepted the job as head coach at Indiana.

--Field Level Media

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