Iowa Basketball Sees Turnaround Under New Coach Ben McCollum

First-year head coach Ben McCollum led the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight, injecting belief back into the program.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:30am

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In his first season as head coach of the Iowa basketball team, Ben McCollum led the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, a significant turnaround for a program that had struggled in recent years. McCollum's arrival has reinvigorated the team and its fanbase, who are hopeful that this is just the start of a new era of success for Iowa basketball.

Why it matters

Iowa basketball has long been a middling program, failing to live up to its potential and often underperforming. McCollum's ability to quickly turn things around and lead the team to the Elite Eight in his first season has reignited hope and belief among players and fans alike, signaling a potential shift in the program's trajectory.

The details

In his first season as head coach, Ben McCollum led the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 25-10 record and a berth in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, a significant improvement over the team's 16-15 record the previous season. McCollum's emphasis on defense and player development has paid dividends, with the team showing marked improvement in several key areas.

  • McCollum was hired as Iowa's head coach in March 2025.
  • The Hawkeyes finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 25-7 record.
  • Iowa advanced to the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA tournament before falling to Illinois 71-59.

The players

Ben McCollum

The first-year head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes basketball team, who has quickly turned the program around and led them to the Elite Eight in his debut season.

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What they’re saying

“That's where we're at right now: A middle-tier team that's not beating the teams that we're supposed to beat.”

— Ben McCollum, Head Coach, Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball

What’s next

With the momentum from this season, Iowa will look to build on their success and continue their upward trajectory under Coach McCollum. The team will aim to secure a higher seed in the 2027 NCAA tournament and make a deeper run.

The takeaway

Ben McCollum's first season as Iowa's head coach has been a resounding success, injecting new life and belief into a program that had struggled in recent years. The Hawkeyes' unexpected run to the Elite Eight has fans excited for the future, as McCollum has proven his ability to quickly turn a team around and establish a winning culture.