For the first time in 15 years, the Iowa Hawkeyes will see a change at the helm with a new head coach. The upcoming 2025-26 season will mark Ben McCollum’s inaugural year as Iowa’s head coach, following his appointment shortly after the conclusion of the regular season, which saw the dismissal of longtime coach Fran McCaffery. With several months before the season kicks off, McCollum shared his vision for the program and what success will entail, as reported by Sam Gillenwater of On3 Sports.
“We aim to cultivate excitement for Iowa basketball and ensure our presence resonates within the community. It’s crucial that Iowa City and the University of Iowa support us,” McCollum stated. “Our goal is to develop a program that everyone can take immense pride in, reflected in the athletes we recruit and the dedication with which we play.”
“Ultimately, though, our objective is to win as many games as possible,” he added. “To achieve that, we will concentrate on our growth processes during the summer and into the fall, with hopes of a successful season.”
McCollum steps in to lead an Iowa team that finished last season with a record of 17-16 and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. Previously, he was the head coach at Drake, where he guided the Bulldogs to a round of 32 finish and wrapped up the season with a remarkable 31-4 record. This was McCollum’s first year coaching at the Division 1 level.
Before that, he had a successful stint as head coach at Division II Northwest Missouri State, where he led the Bearcats to four NCAA D2 championships over a 15-year period.
Under McCaffery’s direction, Iowa had established itself as a consistent competitor in the Big Ten and a regular NCAA Tournament participant. McCollum’s challenge will be to uphold the strong tradition expected by Hawkeyes fans.
David Yapkowitz is a basketball journalist for ClutchPoints, covering news in the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA Basketball for both men’s and women’s leagues. A Los Angeles native, he has contributed to Basketball Insiders, SB Nation, and The Next Hoops.
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Image Source: Drake Atheletics @ YouTube
