If you walked into Carver-Hawkeye Arena two years ago, the vibes were predictable. Fran McCaffery was the fiery, long-tenured anchor, his sons were on the court or the bench, and the "Iowa Way" meant track-meet scoring and a specific brand of continuity.
Now? Everything is different. Basically, the university of iowa basketball coaching staff underwent a total molecular reconstruction in 2025 that is still sending ripples through the Big Ten in 2026.
Most people thought the post-McCaffery era would be a slow burn or a nationwide search for a "big name" from the ACC or Big 12. Instead, AD Beth Goetz went local. She went to Des Moines. She hired Ben McCollum, a guy who dominated Division II so thoroughly at Northwest Missouri State that it became a joke, then proved it wasn't a fluke by winning 31 games in his lone season at Drake.
The New Boss: Ben McCollum
McCollum isn't just a coach; he’s an X’s and O’s obsessive. Honestly, you’ve probably heard the rumors that other coaches in the industry voted him one of the best tacticians in the country even before he coached a high-major game. He’s the 23rd head coach in Iowa history, and he didn’t come alone.
He brought the whole "Drake DNA" with him to Iowa City.
When he was hired in March 2025, he didn't try to play nice with the existing staff to "ease the transition." He cleaned house. It was a bold move that some fans found jarring, especially considering how deep the roots went with guys like Sherman Dillard and Matt Gatens. But McCollum is a "trust the circle" guy.
✨ Don't miss: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
The Supporting Cast: Who’s Actually on the Bench?
The current university of iowa basketball coaching staff is essentially the same group that turned the Missouri Valley Conference into their personal playground.
Josh Sash is a name you should know. He’s an Oskaloosa native—Iowa through and through. He’s got over two decades of experience and even had head coaching stints at the community college level. McCollum calls him an "integral part" of his success, mostly because Sash acts as a sounding board for those complex offensive sets. If you remember Tyler Sash, the former Hawkeye safety and Super Bowl champ, that's Josh's brother. The Iowa ties are real.
Then there’s Bryston Williams. He was actually McCollum's first-ever recruit back in the day. Think about that for a second. That kind of loyalty is rare in a business where people jump for an extra ten grand and a better title every spring. Williams is the energy guy. He's the one you see losing his voice on the sidelines and the one doing the heavy lifting on the recruiting trail.
The Outsider: Luke Barnwell
Not every coach on the staff is a Drake carryover. Luke Barnwell is the outlier, and he’s arguably the most important "new" addition. He came over from Texas Tech, where he helped them reach the Elite 8 in 2025.
Why hire him? Recruiting.
🔗 Read more: El Salvador partido de hoy: Why La Selecta is at a Critical Turning Point
McCollum knew he needed someone with Power 5 (well, Power 4 now) experience. Barnwell spent years at the legendary Sunrise Christian Academy, coaching guys who are now in the NBA. He knows how to talk to five-star kids in a way that a mid-major staff might not. He’s the bridge between McCollum’s system and the elite talent Iowa needs to keep pace with Purdue and Michigan State.
The "Chief" and the "Development" Guy
The staff structure is a bit more modern than the old-school "Assistant 1, Assistant 2" setup.
- Jesse Shaw (Chief of Staff): Another Northwest Missouri State alum. He’s the "organizer." He manages the program's daily operations so McCollum can focus on whether a screen should be set at a 45-degree or 60-degree angle.
- Xavier Kurth (Director of Player Development): He played for McCollum and coached under him. His job is the "micro" work—fixing a guard's footwork or a forward's shooting pocket.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that this staff is "too small-time" for the Big Ten.
People look at the "Division II" or "Mid-Major" labels and assume they’ll get bullied in the portal. But look at the 2025-26 roster. They didn't just bring coaches from Drake; they brought Bennett Stirtz, the MVC Player of the Year. They landed four-star transfers like Brendan Hausen and Alvaro Folgueiras.
The staff's strategy isn't about chasing the biggest name; it's about chasing the right fit for McCollum’s "system." It’s a ball-screen heavy, high-IQ approach that relies on players who don't need a map to find the open man.
💡 You might also like: Meaning of Grand Slam: Why We Use It for Tennis, Baseball, and Breakfast
Why This Staff Still Matters
We’re halfway through the 2026 season now. The honeymoon phase of the "hometown hero" hire is over. Now, it’s about results.
The university of iowa basketball coaching staff is under a microscope because they represent a massive philosophical shift. Fran’s teams were about speed and "vibes." McCollum’s teams are about efficiency and control. If this staff succeeds, it proves that "elite coaching" isn't about where you’ve been, but how you teach.
If they fail? People will say Iowa should have hired a veteran with Big Ten scars.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the Hawkeyes this season, keep an eye on these three things regarding the staff's impact:
- Late-Game Execution: Watch the huddles. McCollum and Sash are notorious for "after-timeout" (ATO) plays that actually work.
- The Barnwell Effect: Check the 2027 recruiting class. If Iowa is in the mix for top-50 kids outside of the Midwest, that's Barnwell's influence.
- Substitution Patterns: Unlike the previous era, this staff tends to ride their starters longer if the "flow" is right. They aren't as wedded to the "hockey sub" style.
The reality is that Iowa basketball is currently a massive experiment in culture-shifting. Whether it leads to a deep March run or a mid-tier finish depends entirely on how well this tight-knit group of coaches adapts to the physical grind of a 20-game Big Ten schedule.