Iowa Coach Ben McCollum Secures Immediate $1 Million Raise After Historic Elite Eight Run
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum has received an instant $1 million salary increase following the team's remarkable first Elite Eight appearance since 1987, as confirmed by The Associated Press through a public records request.
Under the newly finalized contract, McCollum will earn $4.35 million for the 2026-27 season, with annual raises of $100,000 through 2031-32. This marks a significant jump from his previous $3.35 million annual salary.
The agreement also maintains existing incentive structures, including bonuses tied to Big Ten conference achievements, NCAA Tournament progress, player academic success, and coaching honors recognition.
Should McCollum accept another position before April 1, 2027, the university would incur a $5 million buyout; an earlier departure before April 1, 2028, would require a $4 million payment.
During his inaugural season, the Hawkeyes posted a 24-13 overall record and 10-10 conference mark in the Big Ten. Their NCAA Tournament journey included victories over defending champions Florida and Nebraska, culminating in a 71-59 loss to Illinois in the regional championship game held in Houston.
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McCollum joins Tom Davis as the sole other first-year men’s basketball head coach to secure at least 20 wins while reaching the Elite Eight. His 24 victories rank fifth among all Iowa men’s basketball seasons.
McCollum’s rapid ascent began with 15 seasons at Division II Northwest Missouri State before transitioning to Drake University for 2026-27. Prior to Iowa, he compiled a 55-17 record across two NCAA Tournament appearances, including four tournament wins.
"We’ve established a robust foundation and generated tremendous momentum," McCollum stated. "Our focus remains on elevating this program to new heights."
AP College Basketball: [SITEURL]/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and [SITEURL]/hub/college-basketball
