IOWA CITY, Iowa– Ben McCollum was among the most sought-after coaches in this year’s coaching carousel. He opted to take his coaching acumen to his hometown school, which he grew up cheering for. It wasn’t an easy decision. McCollum has been very open about the difficulties the coaching profession can place on a family.
“Coaching is a very difficult profession, and it’s very challenging for your family, but it’s also very rewarding,” McCollum said in his opening press conference. “They’ve stuck with it. Obviously, this is our second move in a year, and I couldn’t appreciate them more.”
When McCollum landed the Iowa job, there was little time for family. He was off and running to recruit a roster and make a statement to the rest of the Big Ten. It hasn’t been an easy journey. Luckily, he had six players from Drake follow him to Iowa City. But what would happen after next season when Bennett Stirtz and a handful of others are gone?…