After a run to the Elite Eight, the expectation is that Iowa head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum is in for a big raise. McCollum’s six-year deal with the Hawkeyes paid him $3.35 million in the first year of his contract, according to the Des Moines Register. Thanks to Iowa’s March Madness success, McCollum will earn a $150,000 bonus on top of his year-1 pay for the teams trip to the Elite 8.
While the Hawkeyes will need to retool its roster a bit to replace star point guard Bennett Stirtz and several other pieces, the feeling is that Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz has landed one of the sport’s next head coaching stars in Ben McCollum.
Iowa AD Beth Goetz tells me the following after the Hawkeyes' run to the Elite Eight under Ben McCollum:
"I couldn’t be more thrilled with what our program has accomplished and the leadership of Coach McCollum.
We are excited about Ben’s future here at Iowa and will work in…
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 30, 2026
In its first season with McCollum at the helm, Iowa finished 24-13 (10-10 Big Ten), reached its first Sweet 16 since 1999 and its first Elite Eight since 1987.
The Hawkeyes are in the mix for some high-profile recruits and there’s a spark surrounding the program that’s been sorely lacking in recent years.
Here’s a look at the next five years of McCollum’s initial six-year deal with the Hawkeyes:
- May 1, 2026-April 30, 2027: $3.6 million
- May 1, 2027-April 30, 2028: $3.8 million
- May 1, 2028-April 30, 2029: $3.9 million
- May 1, 2029-April 30, 2030: $4 million
- May 1, 2030-April 30, 2031: $4.1 million
