Ben McCollum’s arrival at Iowa didn’t make national headlines. It didn’t need to. While other high-profile hires in the Big East and SEC drew the usual media frenzy, Iowa quietly landed one of the most intriguing coaching minds in college basketball-someone whose résumé may not have screamed “power conference” but whose results are quickly doing all the talking.
Now, seven games into the 2025-26 season, the Hawkeyes are undefeated and starting to turn heads. That includes a gritty win over an SEC opponent, a game that tested their poise and showcased a team that’s already bought into McCollum’s vision. For a program that’s struggled to stay relevant in recent years, this start isn’t just encouraging-it’s transformative.
McCollum’s coaching pedigree is well-established, even if most of it was built outside the Division I spotlight. At Northwest Missouri State, he compiled a staggering 395-91 record, good for an .813 winning percentage.
That kind of dominance at the D-II level doesn’t guarantee success in the Big Ten, but it certainly hinted at a coach who knows how to build a culture, develop talent, and win consistently. And through his first 42 games at the Division I level-38 of them wins-he’s proving that great coaching translates.
Last season, McCollum guided Drake to a 34-4 record, and now he’s 7-0 at Iowa. That’s 38-4 overall in Division I, and more importantly, he’s doing it with teams that look prepared, composed, and unafraid of the moment.
Ben McCollum was 395-91 (.813) as a D2 coach..
— Fran Stan (@HawkeyeBBFan) November 27, 2025
He’s currently 38-4 (.904) as a D1 head coach..
Unbelievable
That was especially evident in their recent 74-69 win over Ole Miss. It was their tightest contest of the season, but Iowa didn’t blink.
They executed late, stayed disciplined, and closed out a game that could’ve easily slipped away-exactly the kind of test that reveals what a team is made of.
And now comes the real challenge: Big Ten play. Next up is No.
11 Michigan State, a perennial force with Final Four aspirations. It’s the kind of matchup that Iowa hasn’t been expected to win in recent years.
But under McCollum, expectations are shifting. His teams don’t just show up-they compete with a sharpness and intensity that suggests they’re not just trying to hang around in the Big Ten; they’re trying to matter.
That’s what makes this Iowa team-and this coaching hire-so compelling. McCollum hasn’t just brought a new face to the program; he’s brought a new identity.
One built on preparation, resilience, and a belief that they belong on the same floor as anyone in the country. Whether they’re ready to climb all the way into the Big Ten’s elite tier this season remains to be seen.
But one thing’s clear: Iowa is no longer a team to overlook.
With McCollum at the controls, the Hawkeyes aren’t just turning things around-they’re building something that could last.