Ben McCollum has officially been named the next head basketball coach of Iowa Hawkeyes, according to a release from the university on Monday morning. McCollum, who was born in Iowa City, takes over an Iowa team that was 17-16 in 2024-25 after leading the Drake Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament title, as well as the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament in a 31-4 season in 2025.
“Returning to Iowa City as the head coach of the Hawkeyes is a dream come true for me and my family. The passion of Hawkeye fans is unmatched, and I am incredibly excited to get started on this new journey together,” McCollum stated in the release this morning. “I am thankful to so many people who have been part of my journey, especially Michelle, Peyton, Tate and Grace.”
McCollum won 4 national titles as head coach at Division II Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Missouri, and had a record of 395-91 in his tenure at NWMSU.
“We are excited to welcome Coach McCollum and his family back to Iowa City. 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,” said Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz. “I am confident that Hawkeye fans will enthusiastically support the McCollum family as we embark on the next chapter of Iowa men’s basketball.”
Welcome Home, @CoachMcCollum 🐤
Ben McCollum named head coach of the Iowa Men’s Basketball program.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/zjRrOAMMJK
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) March 24, 2025
McCollum’s introductory press conference will be at 3:30 PM on Tuesday afternoon and will be streamed on the Iowa Athletics YouTube page.