[the_ad id='289359']
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
Donate
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Ben McCollum closes in on contract extension with Iowa men’s basketball

The head coach led the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight in his first season on the sidelines in Iowa City.
Matt McGowan, Sports Editor
May 8, 2026
Samantha DeFily
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum high-fives fans as they storm the court and celebrate with the team after a basketball game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 9 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. The Hawkeyes upset the Cornhuskers, 57-52. (Samantha DeFily/The Daily Iowan)

Iowa men’s basketball head coach Ben McCollum appears to be staying in Iowa City for the foreseeable future. McCollum is finalizing a new six-year contract with the Hawkeyes, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported on Friday morning. After arriving from Drake, McCollum led Iowa to a 24-13 record this season and the program’s first appearance in the Elite Eight since 1987.

McCollum previously brushed off rumors of his interest in the head coaching job at North Carolina, telling ESPN “those are all lies.” North Carolina hired former NBA coach Michael Malone in April. McCollum, born in Iowa City and raised in Storm Lake, joined Dr. Tom Davis as the first-year Iowa head coaches to win at least 20 games, win an NCAA Tournament game, and advance to the Elite Eight.

In its first tournament appearance since 2023, Iowa earned a No. 9 seed and defeated Clemson, upset defending national champion Florida, and took down Nebraska before falling to Illinois. In his two seasons coaching at the Division I level, McCollum is 55-17. Including his time at Northwest Missouri State, where he won four Division II titles, McCollum is 449-108 over 17 seasons, placing him fifth all-time among men’s college basketball coaches in career winning percentage.

McCollum began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State, his alma mater, and then took his first full-time position at Emporia State.