Ben McCollum is one of the hottest names in coaching. Just check out his resume:

• 4 D2 National Championships at Northwest Missouri State
• 31-4 (Missouri Valley Conference Champs & NCAA Tournament win) in 1 season at Drake
• National Coach Of The Year 2024-2025
• Hired as the new men’s basketball coach at Iowa University on March 24th.

Breakthrough Basketball’s Jim Huber had a chance to sit down with Coach McCollum back in July of 2017. At the time, Coach McCollum was fresh off his first NCAA D2 National Championship.

Even then, it was evident that huge things were ahead. You can listen to the entire episode here.

Here are some key points from the discussion, along with some reflection questions for you. No matter what level you’re coaching at, applying Coach’s principles will make you a better coach!

Inside the Mind of a Championship Coach: 9 Lessons from Ben McCollum

🏀 Culture 1st - The BearCat Way Defined

A disciplined, detail-oriented program built on accountability, structure, and intentional player development.

Focuses on developing habits and character traits that translate both on and off the court.

As you listen, consider this - do you have a vision of what your program looks like? Could you articulate it as clearly as Coach McCollum?

🔍 Recruiting Based on Character

Coach McCollum emphasizes recruiting players who are mentally tough, disciplined, and positive.

He avoids players with bad attitudes or poor energy, even if they have talent.

While you may not recruit your players, you do have a say over who plays (at almost every level) or who makes the team (at schools with tryouts). Are you rewarding players with high character?

🚫 Zero Tolerance for Negativity

“No bad attitudes or negative energy” is a rule. This applies to both games and daily habits in the program.

Cultural fit is just as important as basketball skill.

Do you sacrifice culture for talent? This is a struggle for many coaches. Do you enforce your culture the same no matter who the involved player is?

🌟 Player Development Success: Justin Pitts

A lightly recruited player who became NCAA DII Player of the Year.

His story highlights how McCollum’s system helps under-the-radar players thrive.

(If you followed Coach’s Drake team this year, this also could apply to Bennett Stirtz. He started with McCollum at Northwest Missouri State. He followed him to Drake, winning MVC Player of the Year. He is now accompanying Coach McCollum to Iowa.)

How strong is your player development? Look at your roster and honestly evaluate the growth of your players from November to March, then again for the offseason.

💪 “Impose Your Will” Mentality

A daily standard in the program, not just a slogan. Players are trained to consistently bring effort and focus.

Mental toughness is non-negotiable.

Do you teach mental toughness? Do you model it? Whatever your standards are, do you bring them to life daily? Or, do you talk about them the first week and then forget about them?

🎯 Shooting Efficiency and Shot Selection

Freshman Ryan Welty shot 67% from three by only taking “great shots,” not just open ones.

The team teaches players to understand their best shots, not just any shot.

Motto: “Don’t shoot it because you’re open—shoot it because it’s a great shot.”

How do you teach shot selection? Do players know what type of shots you want? Is shot selection the same for all players or does it vary by player?

💬 Communication Strategy: 3-Second Rule

When addressing mistakes, McCollum uses the “3-second rule”: short, sharp, and clear feedback, then move on.

Keeps players engaged without being overwhelmed or defensive.

Do you coach in soundbites or paragraphs? If you’re not sure, record a practice to find out.

🧱 Building Defense in Practice

Defense is a core identity. Practices are structured to instill habits, rotations, and team-first communication.

Practices are intense and purposeful with clear defensive goals.

Do you have a clear defensive identity? Do your players know what the goal of your defensive possessions is?

⏱️ “Being on Time is Being Late”

Punctuality is part of the culture. Players are expected to be early and prepared—no excuses.

This level of discipline carries into how the team operates on and off the court.

Are you early? Does your work ethic match what you expect from your players?

Learn From The Best To Coach Like A Champion

One goal for your coaching development should be to shorten your learning curve. The best coaches learn, and learn fast.

You can and should do this by reflecting on your own experience. But another way to speed up your development is to learn from the lessons of others.

Few offer a better example than Ben McCollum.

This episode is a goldmine for coaches who want to build a winning culture based on discipline, positivity, player development, and elite standards.

Thanks, Coach, for sharing and best of luck with the Hawkeyes!

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