I love the Ben hire and I have a feeling his kid will likely end up being a useful player. That is based on nothing other than a gut feeling.
And I was fine with the McCafferys and Ferentz boys being on the team, especially since Steve was a walk-on.
That said, I don't love this one. When McCollum was hired, my buddies were joking around over text that Iowa should put some stipulation in the contract that none of his kids could play for the Hawks. We laughed about it, and then looked up the oldest kid. The recruiting report said he wasn't even generating much interest at the D2 level. Ok, we said, no way McCollum uses one of his precious roster spots for him.
Yet here we are. I get that he wants to coach his kid. But what do we always say? Big Ten sports are big business. That's why McCollum makes millions of dollars. His job is to put together a roster of the 15 best possible players to win games for Iowa. Giving his kid one of the spots ensures that some other kid - one without a Division I head coach for a dad - misses out on the opportunity. And it is very likely there are other guys out there (hard working kids who maybe even shot better than 40% from 3 in high school), who actually received strong interest from other Division I schools and would jump at the chance to play at Iowa.
Something else to consider. Despite all of McCollum's success, has he ever coached his kid? It's not something he has gone through as a coach before. How do other players react to that? What if he starts playing his kid in back-up PG minutes next year instead of Combs? How will Combs react? What will PG recruits think next year if they see Peyton being groomed in a back-up role already?
What if a few fans start booing his kid or are critical of him on social media? Will that change his relationship with Iowa fans? Will he or his wife perceive the Hawkeye "community" differently? You could certainly make the argument that one of the core reasons for McCaffery's downfall was that he wasn't able to generate enough money for the roster. And that a primary reason he wasn't able to generate enough money was that he no longer connected (perhaps didn't want to connect?) with fans. And part of that was likely some disdain from both Fran and Margaret as to how their two oldest boys were treated by fans.
Otherwise rational people don't always make rational decisions when it involves their family. Which is why companies have nepotism policies. And again, isn't this is a big business?
The timing of the announcement is also a bit unsettling. Dumped on a Friday afternoon right before practice is to start. If McCollum felt good about this move, why wasn't it made and announced earlier in the roster building process?
Finally, I'd push back a bit on this type of thing being common over the years. Yeah, there is certainly some proof of that. But I've heard other old time coaches, guys like Glen Mason, say that in the past coaches didn't really want their kids playing for them or coaching with them. There was a thought process that they should find their own way to a certain extent, and definitely a concern that it could be perceived as favoritism. With all the money involved now, it is even more tempting to bring them into the "family business." But should we want that?
I hope the kid does well. It'd be a great story. But wouldn't we all feel a little better if he want to Coe College this fall and scored 25 points a game, showed dazzling quickness and a great 3 point shot, and then McCollum brought him in as a walk-on next year?
