Head coach Ben McCollum had a historic first season with the Drake Bulldogs. He led the team to a school record 30 wins, won the Missouri Valley Conference and tournament championship, was named MVC coach of the year, and earned an 11th seed in the NCAA tournament.
Drake Head Coach Ben McCollum Discusses Indiana Rumors
In an interview with OutKick’s Dan Dakich on the “Don’t @ Me” Podcast, McCollum was asked about the possibility of joining Indiana as their new head coach.
“If you answer it and say, ‘I’m focused on this and focused on that,’ it’s like, ‘Oh, he didn’t say the obvious’… what are you supposed to say?”
What does Ben McCollum look for in a recruit:
“We want [guys] that have won in high school… they expect to win…. of the things that will get you out of our program.. moody, soft… lack of toughness kids.”
(Via @Outkick 🎥)
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) March 17, 2025
With head coach Mike Woodson out, McCollum would have big shoes to fill for a team many felt should have made the tournament. The Hoosiers finished the year 19-13 and were the second-highest-graded team left out of the tourney, according to CBS.
“I gotta say Indiana is the one (team left out) that sticks out to me – I’m curious to hear the (Committee’s) reasoning.” Seth Davis on the CBS broadcast.
Indiana made the tournament tin each of Woodson’s first two seasons, but failed to make it in each of his last two years. They will not be playing in the NIT or any other postseason tournaments.
For McCollum, loyalty is a major factor in his decision making; “I’ve learned through… some of my mentors and just through myself that the kids that played for us are very, very loyal – I have to reciprocate that. And so, in a lot of these settings, it’s very important that I don’t have a divided heart when I’m coaching”.
However, when Dakich pressed him on the Indiana job, McCollum couldn’t deny his interest:
“You just have to keep your heart where it belongs. I know that a lot of coaches in this profession are on this fast track, just like a lot of players – I make plenty of money where I’m at right now. I made plenty of money at Northwest Missouri State. I’ll continue down that path and make sure that loyalty to me with my kids and my team means a lot more”.
While McCollum says money isn’t a factor, you’ve got to wonder if he’ll turn down a highly lucrative offer from a team in a prestigious conference with a lot more history than both Drake and Northwest Missouri State combined.
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McCollum seems like the perfect candidate to take lead the Hoosiers back to glory, but time will tell. If he ultimately elects to take the job, he’ll be looking for players who are winners, “that have won in high school… they expect to win.” Adding a warning; “of the things that will get you out of our program.. moody, soft… lack of toughness”.
For now, McCollum is focused on getting his team ready for the NCAA Tournament, as Drake faces off against Missouri in the round of 64 on Thursday as 6.5 point underdogs.
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