Report: Drake's Ben McCollum emerges as top candidate in Indiana head coach search

Drake coach Ben McCollum is emerging as a target in Indiana’s head coach search, The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman reported. He “has really impressed” IU AD Scott Dolson as he goes through the process to replace Mike Woodson.

McCollum has been impressive during his first year at Drake, leading the Bulldogs to a 30-3 record and a Missouri Valley Conference title. He spent the previous 15 years at the Division II level at Northwest Missouri State, winning four D-II national championships with the program before making the leap to Division I this year.

On3’s Joe Tipton previously mentioned McCollum as a name to watch in Indiana’s coaching search in his latest intel. The Hoosiers’ season ended Thursday with a loss to Oregon, and they’ll now await their NCAA tournament fate.

Drake coach Ben McCollum has emerged as one of the top candidates for the Indiana opening and has really impressed Indiana AD Scott Dolson, source told @TheFieldOf68.

McCollum, 43, has led Drake to the Missouri Valley regular-season and tournament titles in his first season…

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2025

Drake is heading to the NCAA tournament once again after winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Bulldogs defeated Bradley in the Arch Madness championship to punch their ticket to the big dance for the third straight year and the fourth time in five seasons.

A look at Ben McCollum’s coaching resume

McCollum, 43, started his coaching career in 2003 at Northwest Missouri State as a graduate assistant. He played two seasons with the Bearcats from 2001-03 after starting his career at the JUCO level at North Iowa Area CC.

After two years on Northwest Missouri State’s staff, McCollum spent the next four seasons as an assistant at Emporia State before returning to his alma mater as head coach in 2009. Over the next 15 years, he amassed a 395-91 overall record and at least a share of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association title in his final 11 seasons at the helm.

During that stretch, the Bearcats made three Division II Sweet Sixteen appearances and won four titles. That includes three consecutive championships in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The 2020 Division II tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2018-19, Northwest Missouri State went a perfect 38-0.

After Darian DeVries left Drake to become the head coach at West Virginia, the Bulldogs moved quickly to hire Ben McCollum. He brought four players with him from Northwest Missouri State, including Bennett Stirtz. Stirtz made a seamless transition to Division I and the Missouri Valley, leading the conference in scoring and winning the Larry Bird Trophy as the MVC Player of the Year.

Drake became one of the top mid-majors in the country under DeVries’ watch, and McCollum picked up right where he left off. Now, the Bulldogs are awaiting their seeding in the NCAA tournament and will be watching closely on Selection Sunday.