After guiding Drake to a school-record 31 wins, the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament title, and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in his first year as head coach of the Bulldogs, Ben McCollum has been named the winner of the 2025 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year Award.
The award is unique as it is presented annually to the top first-time head coach in Division I college basketball. McCollum qualifies under this category after his lone season with Drake. He previously led Northwest Missouri State in Division II for 16 years, winning four national championships and amassing a record of 395–91.
“Coach Ben McCollum is the definition of ‘quality knowing no level,’” said James Wilhelmi, Senior Analyst of CollegeInsider.com. “The same championship mentality and elite execution that made him a powerhouse at the D2 level have seamlessly translated to the Missouri Valley. His immediate success at Drake is no surprise -- great coaching wins anywhere. The Joe B. Hall Award is a fitting recognition for his impact.”
2025 Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year@CoachMcCollum x #Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/guROE35PVh
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) March 31, 2025
As McCollum becomes Iowa basketball's 23rd all-time head coach, the Hawkeyes hope that the Iowa City native can transform the program into one that is competitive in both the Big Ten and national landscape for years to come.
The Joe B. Hall Award is named in honor of longtime Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall, who was given the task of following Wildcats' legend Adolph Rupp.
Hall coached the Wildcats from 1972 to 1985, where he held a 297-100 record, received four SEC Coach of the Year honors, and won the 1978 National Championship. He also steered Kentucky to two other Final Fours, eight Southeastern Conference regular-season titles, and the 1984 Southeastern Conference tournament crown.
Hall passed away on January 15, 2022.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: New Iowa basketball coach Ben McCollum garners national honor
