Ryan Paris/The Daily Iowan
Fans fill the bleachers during a baseball game between Northwestern and Iowa at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa. Friday, May 3, 2024. The Hawkeyes defeated the Wildcats 9-2.
New Iowa menโs basketball coach Ben McCollum continues to generate excitement within the Hawkeye fanbase.
On Thursday, Iowa Hawks Nest, the official student section of the Iowa Hawkeyes, announced that they are hosting a special student tailgate on April 12 at Duane Banks Field ahead of Iowa baseballโs game against rival Nebraska.
๐๐๐ฐ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐
Saturday, April 12
1 PM
vs. Nebraska
Meet Head Coaches Ben McCollum & Rick Heller
โข Win prizes
โข Free giveaway items
โข Participate in the ceremonial first pitch@uibaseball 
@iowahoops pic.twitter.com/d0PrWcYE6F
โ Iowa Hawks Nest (@iowahawksnest) April 3, 2025
UI students will have the opportunity to meet McCollum and head baseball coach Rick Heller and participate in free giveaways, eat free ice cream, and potentially throw out the gameโs first pitch. The tailgate will begin at 1:00 p.m. local time, and the game is scheduled to start at 2. Admission to the game is free for UI students.
McCollum was announced as Iowaโs new head coach on March 24 to replace longtime coach Fran McCaffery, who was fired after 15 seasons. McCollum previously served as the head coach at Drake, leading the Bulldogs to a school-record 31 wins and a first round upset over Missouri in the NCAA tournament.
While McCollum has focused on building a competitive roster next season, he has also placed a major emphasis on connecting with the Hawkeye fanbase after the program experienced its lowest attended season in 60 years. Over 50 students attended a welcome event for McCollum on the day of his introductory press conference, and the coach has made frequent appearances on local radio stations since his hiring.
Not only will the event help promote the basketball program, it will likely serve as a boost for the baseball program as well. Iowa baseball has never had a losing season in the 11-year Heller era, and is currently tied with UCLA atop the Big Ten standings with a 10-2 conference mark.