Iowa has tapped Ben McCollum, the head coach of Drake’s men’s basketball team, to lead their program. This news comes shortly after McCollum’s standout season at Drake, where he guided the Bulldogs to a remarkable 31-4 record and their first NCAA tournament round of 32 appearance since 1971. After winning both the Missouri Valley Conference’s regular-season and tournament titles, the Bulldogs earned a thrilling first-round victory against 6-seed Missouri, although they eventually fell to Texas Tech in the second round.
McCollum’s impressive coaching work earned him the title of Missouri Valley Coach of the Year. He was also recognized as a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award, a mark of his growing reputation in college basketball.
Replacing Fran McCaffery at Iowa, who was let go after 15 seasons, McCollum steps into big shoes. McCaffery holds the record for the most wins in Iowa history, with 197 under his belt, during which he led the team to seven NCAA tournament appearances. Notably, Iowa hasn’t made it past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament since 1999.
Before his time at Drake, McCollum was highly successful at Northwest Missouri State. There, he amassed four Division II national championships and an impressive 394-91 record over 15 seasons. His teams dominated the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), securing 11 straight regular-season titles to close out his tenure. Prior to McCollum’s arrival, the Bearcats had only captured four MIAA titles in 62 years.
Iowa’s decision to hire McCollum reflects a desire for a fresh start and a commitment to rebuilding their program. As he takes on this new challenge, fans are hopeful he can bring the same level of success he achieved at Drake and Northwest Missouri State.
Statistics show a growing trend of universities choosing coaches with proven track records at lower divisions to lead their programs, showing confidence in their ability to develop talent and create winning cultures. The NCAA has seen a shift, with many successful coaches emerging from the Division II and III levels, a testament to the depth of talent present across all levels of college basketball.
As McCollum takes the helm at Iowa, the basketball community will be watching closely to see how he molds the program and reinvigorates a fan base eager for postseason success.
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