Ben McCollum is one of the most decorated coaches in Division II basketball history. He took over as the head coach of the Drake Bulldogs on April 1, 2024, after 15 years at Northwest Missouri State.
During his time there, he won four national titles in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022. McCollum became one of the most awarded coaches in Division II history after he won five NABC Division II National Coach of the Year honors and nine MIAA Coach of the Year awards. Now, he is building a new team and game plan. How much does McCollum make at Drake?
Ben McCollum’s Salary & Contract in 2025
Drake is a private university, so the exact number of Ben McCollum’s salary has not been disclosed. However, his previous salary at Northwest Missouri State is available and is listed at over $275,000 per year.
Taking into consideration his resume, Drake is likely paying him a much higher salary. McCollum’s appointment at Drake came after the departure of former head coach Darian DeVries, who moved to West Virginia on a contract worth approximately $3 million annually.
While Drake continues to keep Ben McCollum’s salary secret, his contract is known to be for six years.
In McCollum’s first season itself, he went on to earn the Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award. With this award, he joined a group of 21 coaches who have won the league title in their debut season.
When compared with DeVries, McCollum is likely a more affordable option for Drake. DeVries’ contract at West Virginia included a hefty $4.66 million release clause, and had he taken another position, the hiring school would have owed West Virginia 38% of his remaining contract. Despite the rising stocks, McCollum is a less expensive option.
In the press release post hiring him, Athletics Director Brian Hardin praised McCollum’s track record, stating, “Ben understands what it takes to achieve sustained excellence.
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While his incomparable record of success in competition stands out, the positive impact he has on the lives of his student-athletes has left a more indelible mark.” And McCollum has wasted no time implementing his signature system at Drake.
McCollum’s teams are known for their disciplined motion offense, suffocating defense, and ball movement, all of this has shown in Drake’s first season with him. While the finances might be all hush-hush, the results are loud and clear.
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