In his first year as the head coach at Drake University, Ben McCollum has earned Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors after helping guide Drake to a 27-3 record.
Previous to his time at Drake Univ. McCollum, 43, won 395 games in 16 seasons at Northwest Missouri State, with four Division II national championships.
On McCollum's team's success in year one he had this to say “It feels great. It’s the result of a lot of work… filling out a roster of twelve, hiring a great staff, getting great kids, great players, and obviously, this is a result of a lot of those things,” said McCollum after the game.
McCollum, a native of Iowa City, Iowa, has simply won every year and almsot every game he has coached at the college level and Indiana could make him take another step up to a powerhouse conference if hired as IU head coach next season.
The Hoosiers target, is one of the hottest coaching canidates in the nation leading one of the best mid-majors in the nation who could make a dangerous run depending on seeding with Selection Sunday looming. According to Joe Lunardi’s recent bracketology, the Bulldogs project as an 11-seed.
As stated by USA Today Sports Network's Blake Toppmeyer Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson's past hiring method for Indiana football works as a roadmap for Indiana’s basketball job that needs filled after this season. Hire a winner, plain and simple
Along with McCollum winning MVC coach of the year his junior guard Bennett Stirtz won MVC player of the year aka The Larry Bird Award. Stirtz led the conference in multiple key categories, averaging 18.9 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Guard, Tavion Banks was named Sixth Man of the Year after an impressive season off the bench, averaging 9.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Mitch Mascari earned a spot on the All-MVC Third Team, while Daniel Abreu’s defensive prowess was acknowledged with a selection to the MVC All-Defensive Team.
Let's hope Indiana makes a quick but accurate decision on a head coach after the departure of Mike Woodson. Even though Woodson has ended the season with a bang for IU basketball the Hoosiers are still likely to move on from Woodson at the end of the 2024-25 seaon.