Iowa is working on a contract extension for Ben McCollum
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Unfortunately, this is the market:
$8.33M/year at North Carolina: Ben turned down an interview with North Carolina. UNC then pivoted and hired Mike Malone for a six-year, $50 million contract.
$3.79M/year at IOWA: Last year Ben signed a six-year, $22.75 million contract, starting at $3.35 million in his first season (2025-26) and rising to $4.1 million by the final year, 2030-31.
Malone sees chance to be 'part of something special' at UNC
New Tar Heels coach Michael Malone called North Carolina the only college job he would've accepted, saying he recognizes he has a "chance to be a part of something special" there.
www.espn.com
Good news. Get Ben locked up with a bigger buyout, Beth!
Pay the man.
Did more in one year than Fran in 15+
Did more in one year than Fran in 15+
Fire Beth! She's in over her head!!!
I kid.
I kid.
When you think you have your guy, you do what you can to keep your guy.
@IowaLaw time for a new thread preaching caution.
Exactly. Plus if you wait a year or 2 longer and the price just keeps going up. Something Jerry jones with the cowboys hasn’t figured out yet.
Yeah, it's so dumb to lock in a coach who's taken Iowa basketball to heights it hasn't seen in decades.
Jerrah should sell the team!
Just keep cashin them checks Fran. And maybe donate to Iowa's NIL? Come on be a good sport about this.Unfortunately, this is the market:
$8.33M/year at North Carolina: Ben turned down an interview with North Carolina. UNC then pivoted and hired Mike Malone for a six-year, $50 million contract.
$3.79M/year at IOWA: Last year Ben signed a six-year, $22.75 million contract, starting at $3.35 million in his first season (2025-26) and rising to $4.1 million by the final year, 2030-31.
Malone sees chance to be 'part of something special' at UNC
New Tar Heels coach Michael Malone called North Carolina the only college job he would've accepted, saying he recognizes he has a "chance to be a part of something special" there.
100%. Dumb would be letting your guy slip away because you want to be cautious/cheap. Pay the man. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. Given Ben's track record and what he accomplished this March, it's a risk I'm OK seeing Beth take.
I've said recently - if Ben ever leaves, just make sure it isn't because of money.
Should be making no less than in Top 4 of BigTen coaches.
I don't think this "extension" would necessarily be about more money/more years for Ben, but rather reassurances that he has the backing of the University when it comes to NIL funding and the business/recruiting side of his job.
I recently found a year old article (couldn't find anything solid that was more recent) that showed Ben was in the bottom third at the time of the article. Got to change that.
As of 2025 Izzo was at the top ($7.2M/yr) with Underwood and Painter next.
Dusty May will obviously be #1 going into next year, but BM deserves Top 4 based on what he accomplished without the "elite" NIL athletes.
Just 15 years????
Ben turns 45 on April 12. I wrote him the following letter:
Dear Ben,
I demand that you coach at Iowa until you are 75.
Thank you.
One thing about Beth is I don't think she's cautious or cheap.
Speaking of money, a year ago Ben said bigs from the portal were too expensive. Imagine if a booster had stepped up and said "here's $3M for your big! Now, go win @EvilMonkeyInTheCloset his g'damn NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!"
Seems like Hoiberg is a good comp so I looked it up. According to Gemini:
"Nebraska men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg agreed to a contract extension in March 2026, running through the 2031-32 season with a starting salary of $5 million for the 2026-27 season, which increases by $100,000 annually."
We should at least match this with large bonus potential for B1G championships and tourney runs.
