Iowa basketball, Ben McCollum reportedly agree to long-term contract
The Hawkeyes have their guy! Head coach Ben McCollum is finalizing a long-term extension with Iowa.
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball program has its guy, and they have him locked up long-term. Head coach Ben McCollum reignited the men's basketball program this year with a magical March Madness run to the Elite 8, a historic year for Iowa, and he is going to be in Iowa City, where he is a native, for much longer. After rumors that he was in play for some of the big head coaching jobs open in this year's cycle, specifically North Carolina, which headlined the rumors, McCollum is staying put at Iowa with a new contract extension.
The news, which has broken from ESPN's Pete Thamel, is that Ben McCollum and the Iowa Hawkeyes are nearing an agreement to finalize a six-year contract extension. This move solidifies Iowa's head coaching position and stabilizes a program that appears on the cusp of elevating to the next level in the Big Ten and college basketball. NEWS: Iowa coach Ben McCollum is finalizing a new six-year contract, sources told me and @jeffborzello .
McCollum led the Hawkeyes to the Elite Eight in his first season at the helm and was pursued by North Carolina during the Tar Heels’ coaching search last month. pic. twitter.
com/r3V7fhVCga — Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 8, 2026 Ben McCollum, a proven winner, showed his ability to coach in just one year at Iowa. He had a roster constructed of Missouri Valley players, transfer portal mercenaries, and a few who chose, wisely I must say, amid the change from the Fran McCaffery era. He led Iowa to a 24-13 overall record last year, while going a respectable 10-10 in the Big Ten.