Iowa's Ben McCollum Signs $22.75M Contract as Men's Basketball Coach

Ben McCollum has been named the new head coach of the Iowa men's basketball team after the dismissal of Fran McCaffery, signing a six-year contract worth $22.75 million through the 2030-31 season. McCollum's annual base salary starts at $500,000, with supplemental pay increasing each year, resulting in $3.35 million for his first year and rising to $4.1 million in the contract's final year. His compensation package includes a salary pool of about $2.1 million for four assistant coaches and other staff, as well as various perks such as use of vehicles and access to program facilities. The contract features substantial performance-based bonuses, including up to $400,000 for winning a national championship, and additional incentives tied to both athletic and academic achievements. McCollum was hired after a successful season at Drake, where he led the team to a 31-4 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance, building on his track record of four Division II championships at Northwest Missouri State. Iowa hopes McCollum's leadership will revitalize the program following two consecutive seasons missing the NCAA Tournament.