Just asking. I don’t see the advantage anymore on recruiting . It’s about the dollars with Nil which both would have. I want someone who can coach the bottom 2/3 of the roster. McCollum can flat out coach based on his resume. I don’t see DeVries being more accomplished. Iowa will never be near the top of Nil money and needs someone who can develop and coach wins.
Why DeVries or McCollum
- Thread starter Hawkbaby
- Start date
It's amazing to continue to see the coaching salaries escalate while the Money Pot is declining for Athletic Departments with Revenue sharing to fund player NIL. Unless a school has a Billionaire sponsor that are willing to pay both for both the Coach and the Player's, I don't think it makes sense for Iowa to go out and get a costly coach. If we have to pay WVU almost $6 million plus Devries salary, sounds like we are backing the program into a corner financially where it might not recover. NIL buys players, coach needs to play moneyball.
I admittedly don't know a lot about the coaching style of either of these guys, but if we can only be a middle of the pack NIL player for recruiting, then we need the best talent developer and X and O guy we can get.
You are brining up why I have been on the McCollum train as my first choice. MUCH better accolades and experience as a HC.
I think DD would have given Iowa a bigger "shot in the arm" for MBB but McCollum is the better coach and better long term solution.
I think DD would have given Iowa a bigger "shot in the arm" for MBB but McCollum is the better coach and better long term solution.
McCollum is a championship pedigree coach and in my opinion, has a much higher ceiling. If I were a fan of a rival of Iowa, McCollum is the guy who would scare the hell out of me of potentially being Iowa’s next head coach.
Assuming Iowa will always have to make hay with a bit lesser talent than the top programs no matter who is hired, then they need someone who is exceptional on the sidelines. I feel like McCollum could be that guy. With 4 national titles, even if it's D2 level, it makes me think that the guy can really coach the game.
It's easy to get excited about it and assume too much, and there are no guarantees, but BM could be the sneaky good hire that ends up a home run in the long term. I've been on his bandwagon for a while now. Not just since yesterday.
It's easy to get excited about it and assume too much, and there are no guarantees, but BM could be the sneaky good hire that ends up a home run in the long term. I've been on his bandwagon for a while now. Not just since yesterday.
No disagreements here.Assuming Iowa will always have to make hay with a bit lesser talent than the top programs no matter who is hired, then they need someone who is exceptional on the sidelines. I feel like McCollum could be that guy. With 4 national titles, even if it's D2 level, it makes me think that the guy can really coach the game.
It's easy to get excited about it and assume too much, and there are no guarantees, but BM could be the sneaky good hire that ends up a home run in the long term. I've been on his bandwagon for a while now. Not just since yesterday.
One issue with McCollum that I think is worth discussing, is that at both NW Mo St and Drake, he walked into situations where there was already a foundation of success and strong fan support. It's been well-documented that McCollum did a fantastic job rebuilding the Drake roster, so I have no worries on that front. But I do wonder how he would be in an environment where he needs to build back fan engagement, as he would need to do at Iowa. He seems like a personable, likeable guy, so I would be optimistic. But I don't think he's proven in this area.
The excitement around a coaching change should be enough to spark fan interest.
As ready as fans were for a coaching change, Fran left the program in a MUCH better spot than he found it.
It's a pretty damn good environment to step into.
Frans hungry for success, but willing to give you more time than places like Indiana
Twelve first place (or tied for first) out of the last 13 years at NWM. Then first place at Drake. So, 13 out of the last 14 first place finishes.
That is simply incredible!
That is simply incredible!
Agreed -- the initial change will spark a boost of interest.
But then McCollum will have to sustain it. He will have to build relationships with the media. I'd like to see him initiate events that bring players closer to fans. He will need to meet with donors.
Everything I read about him makes it sound like he's a guy who could do that. Probably more so than our last few coaches. But it's still an unknown.
McCollum is a proven winner, he just won a mid major championship with Division II athletes. He gets it done. Having said that, the AD at West Virginia, served as the AD at none other than Northwest Missouri State University, the same place McCollum came from prior to Drake.
McCollum's success is ahead of schedule, considering Drake is his first Division I coaching job. From 2009 up until 2024, he was the head coach of Division II school Northwest Missouri State, located in Maryville, Missouri. In 15 seasons with the Bearcats, he had a total record of 394–91 (.812) and helped lead them to four Division II national titles.
In addition to that winning experience, McCollum already has an established relationship in Morgantown. West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker was at Northwest Missouri State for two different stints, as AD and Deputy AD, during McCollum's tenure. The relationship between Baker and McCollum may be a valuable foot in the door for West Virginia, especially considering the latter's Iowa City, Iowa roots and links to the vacant Iowa head coaching job.
Ben McCollum
Ben McCollum is a big name heading into the 2025 coaching carousel, given his Midwest roots and several Power Five job openings. The first-year Drake head coach, who was hired last offseason to replace DeVries, has won at every stop. In his first year with the Bulldogs, he's led them to a 30-3 record, lifting the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships, earning an 11th seed in the NCAA Tournament.McCollum's success is ahead of schedule, considering Drake is his first Division I coaching job. From 2009 up until 2024, he was the head coach of Division II school Northwest Missouri State, located in Maryville, Missouri. In 15 seasons with the Bearcats, he had a total record of 394–91 (.812) and helped lead them to four Division II national titles.
In addition to that winning experience, McCollum already has an established relationship in Morgantown. West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker was at Northwest Missouri State for two different stints, as AD and Deputy AD, during McCollum's tenure. The relationship between Baker and McCollum may be a valuable foot in the door for West Virginia, especially considering the latter's Iowa City, Iowa roots and links to the vacant Iowa head coaching job.
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