Iowa basketball's Ben McCollum declined UNC interview

Despite the rumors, the media sensation around a young, rising coach and the March Madness run, the Iowa Hawkeyes are not going to lose head coach Ben McCollum. And not just because there isn't interest, but because he emphatically wants to be in Iowa City, where he is a native. With the University of North Carolina Tar Heels' head coaching job just recently being filled by former NBA head coach Mike Malone, the dust has settled, and it is being reported that McCollum didn't just ignore the rumblings.

Instead, he declined the interview with the Tar Heels so that he could stay with Iowa. The report comes from CBS Sports' Matt Norlander. More on McCollum: He had contact w/ UNC last week as the search played out, per sources.

UNC was hoping to meet with him in person Sunday for a proper interview but he passed on that invitation to stay at Iowa. Malone's candidacy picked up speed as others removed their names. — Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 6, 2026 While there was communication between the two parties, as the coaching search carried on, the end result saw Ben McCollum show the Iowa Hawkeyes that he is exactly where he wants to be, coaching his dream job, by declining the interview at one of college basketball's most storied programs.

McCollum is currently on a six-year contract worth $22. 75 million. With the interest in him from some of the biggest programs in the sport, the Hawkeyes could be pressed to extend his deal and raise the pay to ensure he continues to build Iowa's program.