Who is Ben McCollum? Meet first year Iowa coach that has Hawkeyes in first Elite 8 since 1987

The Iowa Hawkeyes are heading to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987. While Iowa is the 2026 NCAA Tournament’s Cinderella team, one of the craziest aspects of their run so far is that the Hawkeyes are being coached by Ben McCollum, who is in his first year with the program.

McCollum isn’t new to being a college basketball coach, as he has 16 years of experience. He got his start at his alma mater, taking over as the head coach at Northwest Missouri State in 2009. McCollum stayed with the Division II program through the 2023–24 season. He finally took his first Division I head coaching job with Drake. After just one season with the Bulldogs, McCollum returned to his hometown Hawkeyes and took over as Iowa’s head coach for the 2025–26 season.

Here is more on McCollum, who has the Hawkeyes back in the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987. 

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Who is Ben McCollum?

McCollum was born in Iowa City, Iowa. He played college basketball at North Iowa Area Community College from 1999 to 2001 and then at Northwest Missouri State from 2001-03. After graduating, he became a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs. After two seasons, McCollum became an assistant coach at Emporia State, a position he held for four years before returning to his alma mater for his first head coaching job.

Over his 15 seasons at Northwest Missouri State, the team made the NCAA Division II Tournament 11 times. The program either won its conference or finished tied for first 12 times, including each of his final 11 years. McCollum finished with a 395-91 record before being hired at Drake ahead of the 2024-25 season.

He sustained that success with the Bulldogs, finishing 31-4 and leading them to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Drake beat No. 6 Missouri in the first round before falling to No. 3 Texas Tech in the Round of 32. After just one year, he left Drake to take the head coaching job at Iowa.

Ben McCollum coaching history

McCollum has been on five coaching staffs in his short career, serving as the head coach of three of them. After he played his collegiate ball at North Iowa Area Community College and Northwest Missouri State, he immediately got into coaching. McCollum has been a coach since 2003, starting as a graduate assistant at his alma mater and then taking an assistant job at Emporia State. He returned to his alma mater in his first opportunity to be a head coach. 

McCollum was at Northwest Missouri State for 15 years and was then hired by Drake ahead of the 2024 season. This gave him his first Division I head coaching job. After a 15-year stint at Northwest Missouri State, it was a little surprising that he was only at Drake for one season. He was presented with the chance to return home and coach at Iowa, and he took it, beginning with the Hawkeyes in the 2025-2026 season.

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Ben McCollum salary

McCollum was signed to a six-year, $22.75 million contract to become the head coach at Iowa. His contract increases over the course of the deal, and he was set to make $3.35 million in his first year. Given that McCollum led Iowa to its first Elite Eight in nearly 40 years, it wouldn't be surprising to see him get a re-worked deal that gave him a little more money up front. 

Ben McCollum age

McCollum was born on April 12, 1981. He is 44 years old, but looks a little older because of his grey hair on the sides of his head. 

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