Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball EXCLUSIVE: Ben McCollum INTERVIEW with Revelations About Iowa Basketball | Will His Strategy TRANSFORM the Program?
Jul 15, 2025
Ben McCollum, the new head coach of Iowa basketball and former coach at Drake and Northwest Missouri State, shares his bold vision for the team. He discusses his transition to Iowa and the importance of building relationships in recruiting. McCollum highlights the potential impact of new additions like Trey Thompson, as well as transfers Bennett Sturts and Trev. He also delves into strategies for non-conference scheduling and how he plans to blend his successful methods from Drake with the existing talent at Iowa.
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Surreal Moment at Iowa Introduction
- Ben McCollum has been non-stop working since his hiring about a year ago without taking a break.
- The most surreal moment was hearing the Iowa fight song for the first time at his introduction.
Recruiting Transition Challenges
- Transitioning from mid-major to Power Five recruiting requires hard work to catch up on relationships.
- Once caught up, recruiting operates on a similar process but demands extra outreach.
Positionless Versatility of Trey Thompson
- Position labels are less important than players' ability to guard and play multiple roles.
- Trey Thompson is a hybrid forward capable of handling both inside and perimeter duties effectively.