I could see '25 as a growth year with a good jump in '26 if the roster holds (at least somewhat). But I am curious, do you think the current pieces in place stand a better chance of staying with a new coach? In my mind, it's the opposite. That isn't to say we won't have transfers following this season. But I think Fran retains more than a new coach would. We could stand to lose most or all of the incoming freshmen next season with a coaching change.
Who should Iowa hire?
- Thread starter longtimer
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Oh gotcha. Damn I was thinking maybe a big recruit was coming I didn't know about.
New internet report this morning says McCullom is leading candidate at Indiana. Just WOW. Would be really too bad if we missed on Devries and McCullom both who probably wanted the Iowa job
Fryowa
Administrator
Lol...
Hadn't seen that yet but he probably should be. Indiana I think swung and missed on going after TJ at ISU among others. For the sake of chaos I wish that woulda happened. ISU fans woulda burned everything down.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
McCullom and Drake is assuredly the best under the radar story in college basketball this year. Guy brings a bunch of D2 guys with him from a perennial D2 powerhouse and dominates the Valley and looks to get a good seed in tourney. Good on him.
Indiana would be a fool not to consider him, but his style seems more like Butler/Wisconsin sort of ball. Not sure that is a great fit for the Hoosiers who can typically garner higher profile recruits.
Indiana would be a fool not to consider him, but his style seems more like Butler/Wisconsin sort of ball. Not sure that is a great fit for the Hoosiers who can typically garner higher profile recruits.
trj
Well-Known Member
Dusty May said no. Kicked the tires with Brad Stevens just to gauge interest, obviously he didn’t. I knew TJ was on their list…I didn’t know he officially said no. McCullom is the hot mid-major coach, so I guess he would be the next guy on the list. I dunno, maybe Billy Donovan has an interest coming back to college.
No idea on McCullom but Devries definitely wanted Iowa.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
I am sure McCullom would have taken the Iowa job last year as that is a big step up over Drake. But now? He can do better than Iowa.
Whether Devries wanted or wants the Iowa gig seems to be fueled by a lot of internet speculation. We should know more in a couple weeks what Beth wants to do.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
The question about McCollom is what his goals are. Just like the situation at ClownU. If Iowa is McCollom's dream destination, it might not matter if there are "better" schools calling. Dude coached D2 for fifteen seasons. It's not like money is his only motivating factor. He's certainly had no problem doing more with less at either of his two HC stints. If Iowa is a dream job for him, he can certainly keep doing that.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
You just can't ignore 4 Natty's at whatever level and a regular season and tourney title in your first year at th higher level.
SwirlinLingerie
Well-Known Member
I don't know if Iowa is McCollom's dream job, but he definitely seems like a very cerebral guy. He had opportunities to leave D2 in earlier years. He stayed - and for several years desperately wanted the Drake job. I think this is a cat who knows who he is, knows what he values, and makes his own decisions based on that.
And for the right person, Iowa is an amazing opportunity.
Think about it. They play in the Big Ten conference, and have retained a good, solid coach for 15 years despite never winning a conference title or making a sweet 16. From a coach's perspective, that is amazing. They've employed the same football coach for 25 years. Again, amazing.
The women's basketball team was second in the ENTIRE COUNTRY in attendance last year. There is an unbelievable appetite for a fun, winning basketball team. People will come.
There is a relatively young athletic director in place who, in my estimation, is top notch. Extremely bright, tough, high emotional intelligence, understands the fan base, is a leader, and is forward looking.
And she is looking for a new coach, sooner rather than later, to help her galvanize the fan base and re-imagine the men's basketball program. And is open to feedback on how to change the arena and game day atmosphere.
I know the money might not be there right now for men's basketball, but we are talking the Iowa Hawkeyes here. It won't take a ton of winning to grease that wheel. At least enough to be mid-pack. And just imagine the passion and gratitude that would be unleashed with a single sweet 16 run?
The right candidate will see a lot of upside with the job.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
I know he is from IC. Do we know if he is/was a Hawk fan????
Being in a comfortable place can win out over money to a certain extent. I am a die hard Hawk fan but if Indiana and Iowa both offered me the job and Indiana offered twice as much money for me and NIL, I would be a Hoosier. Home town discount only gets you so far.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
He certainly grew up in a time where the only way you would be a clown in the state of Iowa is if you had deep personal connections to the ag program there. Which is not dispositive. But growing up in Iowa with a clear love of sports? I'm not sure how a person like that isn't, or at least, wasn't.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know his full Iowa background? I know he was born in IC but I believe I read he was raised in Storm Lake and went to Buena Vista. Did his parents go to Iowa then move?
Just curious.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
His bio said he graduated from Catholic school in Storm Lake in 1999, went to community college in Iowa for a couple years while he played some, but then started his coaching journey, with almost all of that being in Missouri.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
A little further research shows he went to NIACC for those two community college years then transferred to NW MO, not Buena Vista, where he played his final two years. NW Mo went to its first Div II Elite Eight while he was playing. He became an assistant at Emporia St in Kanas before NW brought him back as head coach. His teams there struggled initially before taking off.
