ESPN lists Iowa basketball among 'jobs that could open'

ESPN lists Iowa basketball among ‘jobs that could open’

Posted by author February 26, 2025 Jobs

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As the losses have continued to mount, the calls for a change get louder and louder.

Iowa (15-13, 6-11 Big Ten) suffered another embarrassing road loss on Tuesday night, falling at Illinois (18-11, 10-8 Big Ten), 81-61. It snapped a three-game losing streak for the Illini where Illinois had lost by more than 14 points in each setback, including the program’s worst-ever loss last Sunday versus then-No. 3 Duke, 110-67.

With just three regular season games left to play, Iowa is in serious danger of missing the Big Ten Tournament altogether. Barring a shocking conference-tournament run, the Hawkeyes are set to miss the NCAA Tournament for the second season in a row.

Given the struggles over the past two seasons, Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery’s job status has come into question. ESPN included Iowa among a group of college basketball programs where the job could open.

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello included Iowa alongside Arizona State, Georgia, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, UCF and Villanova.

Fran McCaffery is nearing the end of his 15th season at Iowa, with the Hawkeyes likely to miss the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. He has been to seven NCAA tournaments during his time in Iowa City, including four straight from 2019 and 2023, but failed to get past the first weekend each time. Sources have pushed back against the idea of a retirement, although it would cost around $4 million for the school to move on from him.

West Virginia’s Darian DeVries and Drake’s Ben McCollum would be obvious candidates. – Borzello, ESPN.

McCaffery is the winningest coach in Iowa basketball history, but fans have grown frustrated by disappointing results each of the past two seasons and the failure of the program to advance to a Sweet 16 during McCaffery’s tenure.

If Iowa were to fire McCaffery, the buyout would be $4.2 million and it could be paid out over the next three years.

West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries and Drake head coach Ben McCollum have been two popular names that analysts have theorized as potential successors should Iowa decide to move on from McCaffery.

DeVries played collegiately at Northern Iowa from 1994-98 before serving as an assistant at Creighton from 2001-18. Then, DeVries coached Drake from 2018-24 where he compiled a 150-55 (78-33 Missouri Valley) record and guided the Bulldogs to a trio of NCAA Tournament berths.

DeVries’ West Virginia squad currently owns a 17-11 (8-9 Big 12) record and were projected as a No. 10 seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology.

Meanwhile, DeVries’ successor at Drake, Ben McCollum, has the Bulldogs with a 25-3 (15-3 Missouri Valley) mark.

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