Iowa head coach Ben McCollum has proven to be a top coach in college basketball in his first year with the Hawkeyes. It is a feeling of Curt Cignetti at Indnana with McCollum as he spent a lot of time at mid-majors before accepting the job in Iowa City.
McCollum is now leading Iowa to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987 as the lowest-seeded still left in the NCAA Tournament. McCollum has proven he is the real deal at Iowa, and some teams in need of new coaches or might be in need soon, are thinking about calling.
Even though the teams want to call, McCollum isn't listening as he doesn't have any plans to leave Iowa City after this season. When asked if he intended to be the head coach at Iowa, McCollum was very quick to answer.
"Yes...those [rumors] are all lies," McCollum said.
Iowa head coach Ben McCollum’s name has been floated in connection to coaching positions like at North Carolina and Kansas.
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) March 27, 2026
Asked if he is planning on returning to Iowa next year: “Yes.”
“Those [rumors] are all lies.” pic.twitter.com/f6ckzBiX5C
Kansas needs a better backup plan than Ben McCollum is Bill Self chooses to retire
Even though Bill Self has said that he still hasn't made his decision on his future with Kansas, and the rumors are untrue, the Jayhawks have to be ready. McCollum would have been a great culture guy to bring to Lawrence, especially with the way the Jayhawks played this season.
It is clear the success follows wherever McCollum goes, but is doesn't seem like he will be bringing it to Kansas. Becuase of this, the Jayhawks need to come up with another plan. If Self retires, the Jayhawks need to have someone ready becasue the longer it takes, the more top coaches available will be off the board.
There is hope that Self will decide soon about retiring or sticking with the Jayhawks for another year, but there is hope that he will stay. The legendary coach has brought Kansas a lot of success, and there could still be some left in the tank.