Ben McCollum gained attention this season. He is a four‐time Division II champion. He ended his first season as a Division I head coach with 31 wins. He led the Drake Bulldogs to upset sixth‐seeded Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs lost 77–64 to Texas Tech later. Rumors now swirl about McCollum’s future. He appears ready to be a prized coach in this offseason’s hiring cycle.
When asked about his plans for next season at Drake, McCollum gave a vague reply. His words raised questions about a possible move. Changes in the conference’s coaching roles add to the speculation about his tenure.
McCollum took charge at Drake last offseason. He replaced Darian DeVries, who left for West Virginia after a six‐year reign with three NCAA Tournament trips. Now, DeVries coaches at Indiana University. He had been eyed for that spot since Mike Woodson said he would step down. McCollum’s 31–4 record in his first Division I season has caught the eye of several Power Conference programs. Some of these programs connect to DeVries’s earlier successes.
Drake hired McCollum hoping he would stay long. They trusted him because he built a strong program at Northwest Missouri State over 16 seasons. But new coaching offers can be hard to refuse. Like Niko Medved’s brief spell at Drake, McCollum’s stay might be shorter than hoped.
McCollum brought a careful style to the Missouri Valley Conference. His team finished last in possessions per game, a sign of his methodical play. He also relied on star point guard Bennett Stirtz. Stirtz exceeded expectations. He earned Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors and an All-American honorable mention. He scored 21 points in the win over Missouri and did so again against Texas Tech. With one year left and the chance for an extension like other Division II players, Stirtz could stay with McCollum. Teams may soon view them as a package deal.
The coaching carousel now turns as teams look for new leaders. McCollum’s name appears often among the candidates. His spot on the market grows with vacancies from DeVries’s move and other changes. Will Wade signed a six-year deal at NC State, and Duke’s assistant Jai Lucas took on the challenge at Miami. Villanova is also looking for a coach to replace Kyle Neptune after three tough seasons.
No team seeded 13 or higher advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This fact shows the strong challenges teams face in the NIL era and with changing revenue shares. For a coach like McCollum, this moment may be key to moving into a Power Conference program. Time will tell where his journey leads, as many opportunities emerge after the NCAA Tournament and amid the shifting coaching landscape in college basketball.
