INSIDER INFO

[Arbor1]

That's seems true. If we can't out ‘recruit’ WVU for a head coach then the program really is in a sadder state than ever.

I personally believe that McCollum has been Beth’s #1 choice all along. The reasons she may have favored him are multiple I suspect. No buyout. Better overall results. Better word of mouth from experts in the coaching field on who is better fit. Since DD was named as IU coach much has come out about him that may not shine the best light on him. Additionally if he is a coach that needs max NIL to succeed then maybe he isn't as good of a coach as we are led to believe.

We can pay better than WVU. Any school that could have allegedly have paid DDs buyout could certainly afford higher pay. DD was making less than Fran at WVU. I feel strongly that Beth knows her guy, has had positive communications with him, has informed donors and they are ready to bump up NIL. The idea we missed on DD I think is incorrect. There is no evidence of this at all. The only source asserting this is questionable at best. Iowa Burner Network.

Morgantown vs Iowa City? Lol. That hilarious. WVU AD that BM reportedly has a relationship with from his last school already passed on him prior. You think he doesn't remember that?

Lastly this tells all you need to know…

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect this," McCollum said after the win, according to Eli Lederman of ESPN. "I expected exactly this. I expected [my players] to compete. I brought winners with me. That's what I brought. I guess my superpower is finding winners, finding tough kids and believing in them. So I kind of expected this. I'd be lying if I said I didn't.“

None of that tells me he demands max NIL at his school of choice. So this idea WVU is a better suitor because of their NIL budget and our supposedly low NIL budget misses in a couple of ways. First our new budget is likely to go up noticeably. Second I don't think that's a major factor in what BM wants in a new school.

Source:

MSN

Very similar to the KF approach in fb. Largely successful but not sexy or ‘dynamic’ enough for some. I hope you are correct in your assessment.

 

[ulrey]

That’s why he went to Drake, right? Because of the resources and NIL to pay the players?

Missouri Valley is a little different than the BIG..

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Agreed. My only concern would be him wanting to stay at Drake for a little while. Listening to him on Dan Patrick today and he's a pretty even-keeled guy. Didn't sound like he's the type that wants to jump around much and believes that loyalty and family are of the utmost importance. I think there's a good chance he stays. Outside of that, I think Iowa is in a good spot based on his stated priorities.

He's got plenty of options coming his way. Hopefully staying/raising his family in Iowa while serving at one of the two highest profile schools in the state is enough to lure him. I feel like the next job will probably be where he ends his career.

If he chooses to take the Iowa job, it instills a lot of confidence he plans to be there a long time.

 

[83Hawk]

Missouri Valley is a little different than the BIG..

Then maybe NIL isn’t the most important thing to him.

 

[denmar81]

Iowa supposedly was bottom of the B1G in NIL. I personally don’t believe it was last BTW. If Fran would have emphasized defense and rebounding to go along with his good offenses Iowa wouldn’t have needed a big NIL, they would have finished top half of the conference almost yearly. A bunch of NIL money would be great but a coach that believes in all aspects of the game is more important. A team full of 5 stars isn’t winning if they don’t defend or rebound.

 

[BonzoFury]

Got some info tonight from someone who knows past and current players. A very reliable source in my opinion.
McCollum is a done deal to Iowa.
Good chance Fran might be headed to Penn, taking Connor as an Asst. if he takes job. Obviously, young brother heads along too.
Mulvey already has a school picked out, too.

So what's the latest from your friend?

 

[mvhomerl]

So what's the latest from your friend?

Jimmy Hoffa is buried in the end zone, Giants stadium.

 

[the24fan]

If he chooses to take the Iowa job, it instills a lot of confidence he plans to be there a long time.

No doubt the fact that Iowa rarely makes knee jerk reactions on coaching changes may very well be one of the major factors in landing McCollum. He is not stupid. He knows he could be here 15-20 years if he puts a decent product on the court.

 

[iowaathletes]

Anyone hear this elsewhere - Where he is contacting Iowa players? I find it hard to believe, your thoughts?

Here is an article where he'd apparently vetted his NWMS players to see if they'd go to Drake prior to accepting the job there:

https://www.theringer.com/2025/03/1...-madness-ben-mccollum-transfer-portal-rebuild

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

McCollum's not coming to Iowa City

If you’re wrong, will you extend us the courtesy of leaving this board forever? You don’t deserve to be a fan of a McCollum-coached Iowa basketball program.

 

[RicoSuave102954]

If you’re wrong, will you extend us the courtesy of leaving this board forever? You don’t deserve to be a fan of a McCollum-coached Iowa basketball program.

If I'm wrong, I will back him and the program 100% just like I did with Fran.

 

[Mohawkeye]

No one knows anything except this and this fact should help people’s anxiety……Iowa’s number 1 target is still coaching in the tournament. Otherwise why else would there be a delay in naming a coach?

Odom loses. Immediately named as new coach at VA. Devries misses the tournament and immediately named as IU coach.

Our #1 guy is still coaching.

Precisely.

 

[Birky]

Missouri Valley is a little different than the BIG..

He had far from the most talented team in Valley this year. Just like he’s have to start at Iowa in the B1G.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

He had far from the most talented team in Valley this year. Just like he’s have to start at Iowa in the B1G.

I don’t know about that. I have watched the Valley and I would say he had one of the top 3 teams in the league for talent.

 

[Legs94]

Jimmy Hoffa is buried in the end zone, Giants stadium.

 

[Legs94]

If I'm wrong, I will back him and the program 100% just like I did with Fran.

Thanks Connor. Can you get your girlfriend to donate some of that Gatorade and Nike money to the men’s basketball program? we could use a little help

 

[Birky]

I don’t know about that. I have watched the Valley and I would say he had one of the top 3 teams in the league for talent.

There is a reason the played so slowly.

 

[tippet1]

No one knows anything except this and this fact should help people’s anxiety……Iowa’s number 1 target is still coaching in the tournament. Otherwise why else would there be a delay in naming a coach?

Odom loses. Immediately named as new coach at VA. Devries misses the tournament and immediately named as IU coach.

Our #1 guy is still coaching.

Hopefully it is the NCAA and not the NIT.

 

[Birky]

Hopefully it is the NCAA and not the NIT.

The first time someone calls the NIT “The Tournament,” we can ask that question.

 

[ulrey]

He had far from the most talented team in Valley this year. Just like he’s have to start at Iowa in the B1G.

Wut?

 

[Ladell-hawk]

There is a reason the played so slowly.

That’s how he likes to play.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

That’s how he likes to play.

No. Because this team didn't have the shooters he likes to have, so working for the best shot is the best chance the have. He said so himself this is NOT his preferred style.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

No. Because this team didn't have the shooters he likes to have, so working for the best shot is the best chance the have. He said so himself this is NOT his preferred style.

Historically, his teams have played this way a lot and there is nothing wrong with it. Winning is the important thing.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

Historically, his teams have played this way a lot and there is nothing wrong with it. Winning is the important thing.

Agreed!

 

[StanzByMe]

McCollum's not coming to Iowa City - The next head coach will almost certainly have to rebuild the Iowa roster, with five Iowa players currently in the transfer portal, and that’ll take money that might not be available for such a daunting task.

The lack of resources will be a concern no matter who ultimately gets hired to replace Fran McCaffery, who lost multiple recruits due simply to not having enough NIL resources to compete with the big boys.

Copy and paste copy and paste, dummy.

 

[Ladell-hawk]

Several head coaches' names have been mentioned in connection with the job, but one appears to be the favorite among the West Virginia program: Ben McCollum. McCollum is a four-time national champion at the Division II level.

"Ben McCollum appears to be WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker's leading candidate, according to most reports on the program's coaching search," Joseph Smith wrote. "It makes plenty of sense too-McCollum was rumored to be on Baker's shortlist during the coaching search last spring that landed Darian DeVries."

It seems that Baker is poised to go all-in on McCollum once again. On Thursday night, McCollum led his Drake squad to victory over a strong Missouri program. In his first year as a Division I coach, McCollum has already guided Drake to 31 wins this season. West Virginia is looking to build on this year's success and turn the program around, and hiring an elite winner like McCollum could be the key to achieving that goal.

At the Big Ten level you will have to have good nil money to win consistently . It’s doable at Iowa.

 

[torbee]

Thanks Connor. Can you get your girlfriend to donate some of that Gatorade and Nike money to the men’s basketball program? we could use a little help

Honestly didn’t think his basketball takes could suck harder than his political takes 😂

Must be Northern’s understudy.

 

[iowaathletes]

Trilly intel just out - He said Iowa finalizing a deal with McCollum

 

[HawkBall23]

Trilly intel just out - He said Iowa finalizing a deal with McCollum

 

[SCHawkFan]

Trilly intel just out - He said Iowa finalizing a deal with McCollum

Who?

 

[Legs94]

Trilly intel just out - He said Iowa finalizing a deal with McCollum

Who is Trilly?

 

[iowaathletes]

Trilly Donovan

https://www.hawkeyelounge.com/attachments/1742690556538-jpeg.61439/

 

[skydog0784]

I posted this in another thread when the question of "who's Trilly" came up...

Trilly Donovan, a pretty well connected college hoops analysts that seems to be right more often than not (but certainly has been wrong before). Best I can tell his internet presence / name is anonymous for a college analyst that most would recognize. But I'm not sure on that.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Iowa supposedly was bottom of the B1G in NIL. I personally don’t believe it was last BTW. If Fran would have emphasized defense and rebounding to go along with his good offenses Iowa wouldn’t have needed a big NIL, they would have finished top half of the conference almost yearly. A bunch of NIL money would be great but a coach that believes in all aspects of the game is more important. A team full of 5 stars isn’t winning if they don’t defend or rebound.

They did finish in the top half of the B1G almost yearly.

Just sayin'

 

[iowaathletes]

Trilly: NIL was told 5-6 range, incl rev sharing

 

[skydog0784]

Trilly: NIL was told 5-6 range, incl rev sharing

That's good news, gets us competitive I think. Would be great to get it up to $6M. I think that get's us up to the mid-point or so in the B1G.

 

[83Hawk]

Trilly intel just out - He said Iowa finalizing a deal with McCollum

 

[skydog0784]

It would be very good if Iowa could announce McCollum as the head coach tomorrow (assuming that is the case).

That would provide maximum TV exposure during the Sunday NCAA coverage.

 

[DougFHawkeye]

Tunadog...this ok with you

 

[HawkLogic]

That's good news, gets us competitive I think. Would be great to get it up to $6M. I think that get's us up to the mid-point or so in the B1G.

Fran wanted $6 million in NIL to be competitive and he'd be happy to keep coaching at $3.5 million/yr. Of course he wasn't willing to go out and actually raise the NIL himself by doing the necessary smoozing, ass kissing, etc.