A new era: Social media reacts to Iowa basketball hiring Ben McCollum as new head coach

It is a new era in Iowa City for Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball. After some murmurings that Ben McCollum was going to be the new head coach, the news has finally been confirmed that Iowa has their guy.

The news broke this morning that Iowa has hired former Drake head coach Ben McCollum to lead the program moving forward. The move comes after Iowa separated from Fran McCaffery after 15 years. This hire ushers in a new style of basketball, a breath of fresh air into a program that desperately needs it, and gives Hawkeyes fans a reason to be excited again.

That excitement was palpable on social media as fans joined in excitement cheering about the hire. Check out what social media had to say about the hire by Iowa.

Iowa AD Beth Goetz confirms to The Athletic that Ben McCollum will be the next Iowa men’s basketball coach. It was finalized last night.
— Scott Dochterman (@ScottDochterman) March 24, 2025

Sources: Iowa plans to hire Drake’s Ben McCollum as its next head basketball coach.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 24, 2025

I’ve had such an apathy toward Iowa basketball lately, really ever since that loss to Richmond in the tourney a couple years back. That feels like the point the train started coming off the tracks.

But today… today is a good day. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/Sx6l9ojBXP
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) March 24, 2025

Ben McCollum:

-43, born in Iowa City
-grew up in Storm Lake
-played at NW Mo St
-won 4 National Championships at NW Mo State in 6 years as head coach
-won conference title 12 times in D2
-won MVC conference and tournament
-MVC coach of the year
-426-95 as a head coach pic.twitter.com/rDdvmKNzhM
— I Love Iowa Basketball (@ILoveIowaBball) March 24, 2025

Let’s just say Ben McCollum and Bennett Stirtz duo solves Iowa’s attendance problem day 1.
— I Love Iowa Basketball (@ILoveIowaBball) March 23, 2025

Iowa getting Bennett Stirtz with McCollum would give us a

-6’4 point guard
-MVC Player of the Year
-Avg 19.2 PPG, 5.7 APG, 4.3 RPG
-played 39.4 MPG
-started D2 and now is an NBA prospect pic.twitter.com/Qd8ZBGoNlU
— I Love Iowa Basketball (@ILoveIowaBball) March 24, 2025

Beth Goetz got her man, and it will be a defining moment in her career. It’s a new beginning for Iowa Basketball.

Give Carver a facelift and put the students front and center. https://t.co/aM1ACi49yF
— Joe Hugen (@Joe_Hugen) March 24, 2025

Beth Goetz needs to be praised for how much she has helped Iowa athletics the past three years
— hawkeye 510 threaded cart (@burnerHAWKHAWK) March 24, 2025

The new era begins now. pic.twitter.com/7xUE1FNLaz
— Ben McCollum fan (@HireBenMcCollum) March 24, 2025

Ben McCollum’s resumé is eerily similar to that of Bo Ryan when he got hired at Wisconsin.

4x national champion at a lower NCAA division, then a brief stint at a mid-major. Only difference is that McCollum won an NCAA tournament game and he’s 10 years younger than Ryan was.
— Brandon Koretz (@BrandonKoretz) March 24, 2025

Ben McCollum will be the first native Iowan to coach the #Hawkeyes since Dick Schultz (no relation to me) in the early 1970s.

That is AWESOME.
— Brad Schultz (@BradMSchultz) March 24, 2025

Ben McCollum heading to Iowa. Congrats to Ben. An excellent coach. I’ll be curious if he goes Black or Gold for his tie color. He wears the same tie at each game for an entire season. He has his 4 green ties from NW MO ST, & will certainly keep this seasons blue tie. https://t.co/m0OnDPUtvQ
— Brad Wells (@BradWellsTV) March 24, 2025

Time to OFFICIALLY get Ben McCollum a Gold tie. pic.twitter.com/uT1OcJwkCU
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 24, 2025

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7

This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Social media reacts to Iowa basketball hiring Ben McCollum

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