DES MOINES, Iowa — Ben McCollum will be the next head coach for the University of Iowa Men’s Basketball Team.
The hiring was confirmed to the Associated Press by Iowa spokesman Matt Weitzel on Monday.
The hire comes after a successful debut season for McCollum as Drake University’s head coach, one that landed the Bulldogs in the NCAA tournament after winning the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake ultimately lost to Texas Tech, 77-64, in the second round.
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EVANSVILLE, IL – MARCH 26: Head Coach Ben McCollum of the Northwestern Missouri State Bearcats coaches from the sideline against the Augusta Jaguars during the Division II Men’s Basketball Championship held at The Ford Center on March 26, 2022 in Evansville, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) -
CHARLESTON, SC – NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs signals to his players in the first half during the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic college basketball game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at TD Arena on November 22, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) -
Drake head coach Ben McCollum watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Kansas State, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) -
Drake head coach Ben McCollum applauds during the second half against Bradley in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) -
Drake head coach Ben McCollum hugs Nate Ferguson (24) in the final seconds against Bradley in the championship game of the Missouri Valley Conference NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 9, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) -
Drake head coach Ben McCollum talks to his players during the first half of the first round against Missouri of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) -
WICHITA, KANSAS – MARCH 20: Head coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs signals to players during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) -
WICHITA, KANSAS – MARCH 20: Head coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs signals to players during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) -
WICHITA, KANSAS – MARCH 20: head coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs walks back to the bench during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) -
WICHITA, KANSAS – MARCH 20: Head coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs shakes hands with head coach Dennis Gates of the Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) -
WICHITA, KANSAS – MARCH 20: Head Coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs reacts during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Missouri Tigers at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
WICHITA, KANSAS – MARCH 20: Head Coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs reacts during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Missouri Tigers at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
WICHITA, KANSAS – MARCH 20: Head Coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs reacts during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Missouri Tigers at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
Drake head coach Ben McCollum has words with the referee during the first half against Texas Tech in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)
McCollum will replace Fran McCaffery, who led the Hawkeyes for 15 years and is the winningest coach in the program’s history. He was fired on March 14th, the day after Iowa lost to Illinois 106-94 in the Big Ten Tournament.
McCollum came to Drake in 2024 after 15 years as head coach of Division II Northwest Missouri State. He led the Bearcats to four NCAA DII titles during his tenure and tallied a record of 394-91.
He replaced Darian DeVries who left for the head coaching job at West Virginia, but was recently named Indiana’s head coach.
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