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It’s a shaky time for Iowa basketball. Iowa Hawkeye men axe Fran McCaffery after a bad year. Iowa Hawkeye women have lost momentum in the post Clark era, and Iowa State men and women basketball have an average tournament showing. As Drake’s head coach Brian McCollum heads to Iowa however, are they the real winner? Ross Peterson of The Rush suggests this apparent loss may be a huge advantage.
The Drake Bulldogs have now lost three high performing coaches, but as Peterson points out. They now find themselves as a pipeline that attracts premium coaching talent. Does this make Drake University the place to go for coaches who work hard and want to rise through the ranks? Will Drake use this as a recruiting advantage for coaches and players. Peterson thinks so.
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Ross Peterson on Drake Coaching Shifts
In his return to The Iowa Podcast, Ross Peterson co-host of The Rush with Travis Justice (formerly of KXNO) provided a sweeping analysis of Iowa’s shifting basketball dynamics, the rising importance of digital platforms like YouTube, and the broader transitions shaping University of Iowa athletics.
Drake University: The Big 10 Coaching Pipeline?
A focal point of the discussion was the rapid ascent of Ben McCollum, who after only one season at Drake, was named Iowa’s new men’s basketball head coach. Peterson explained McCollum’s deep Iowa roots, coaching philosophy centered on aggressive defense and fluid offense, and the long-term vision that made him a clear fit for the Hawkeyes.
He also contextualized the hire within a larger trend: Drake University’s recent pattern of launching coaches into the Big Ten. The last three Drake head coaches are now leading programs at Iowa, Indiana, and Minnesota.
Ben McCollum (2024–2025), Darian DeVries (2018–2024), and Niko Medved (2017–2018) all coached at Drake before going to Big 10 schools.
According to Peterson, this may solidify Drake’s growing reputation as a talent incubator—a mutually beneficial dynamic where successful coaches move on, and Drake leverages their exits to attract the next generation of rising stars. Peterson spoke with Brian Hardin of Drake University Athletics about this very topic. (Available here)
Athletic Crossroads for Iowa Sports Programs
The conversation turned to the current state of University of Iowa athletics, which Peterson described as being in a moment of major transition. The Hawkeye men’s basketball program, long plagued by inconsistent defense and waning fan interest, now looks to McCollum for renewal. Meanwhile, Iowa wrestling, once untouchable, now plays catch-up with a dominant Penn State program, despite landing the nation’s top high school recruit.
Peterson also analyzed the aftershocks of Caitlin Clark’s departure from the women’s basketball program. While season ticket sales remain strong, the cultural phenomenon she ignited may be moving on, raising questions about long-term momentum. He emphasized that while Iowa capitalized well on the moment, sustained national prominence will require consistent performance beyond one exceptional era.
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Peterson concluded that Iowa athletics are entering a period of recalibration—balancing tradition with necessary change—as they navigate leadership shifts and recruiting challenges.
Iowa State men and women’s basketball programs are seeing a similar recalibration as both had average performances in the NCAA tournaments.
After years of excitement, is Iowa basketball culture on the ropes?
Digital Shifts and the Growth of ‘The Rush’
Peterson shared how his new show, The Rush, born from a desire for creative independence, has found early success by embracing YouTube and livestreaming. Initially unfamiliar with the platform’s tools and reach, he discovered its potential for growth and audience connection. As SEO continues to shift toward video content, YouTube’s role in content discovery and community-building is becoming central.
Peterson and host Justin Brady discussed how digital trends are reshaping media consumption, particularly with AI-driven search making video titles more important than traditional web-based SEO.
Links we promised!
Check out The Rush on YouTube.
Buy a house from Ross with Agency Iowa.