Connor Wheeler has been named an assistant coach with the University of Iowa men’s basketball program, it was announced Tuesday by head coach Ben McCollum.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Connor Wheeler has officially been added to the University of Iowa men’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach Ben McCollum announced Tuesday.
Wheeler brings eight years of experience to the role, having previously coached at Drake (2024-25), Southeast Missouri State (2022-24), Southern Illinois (2019-22), Southern Miss (2018-19), and Missouri (2016-18).
“Connor is an exceptional young coach,” said McCollum. “His rapid rise is a testament to his abilities. He’s incredibly talented and will continue to grow here at Iowa. He’s going to help us compete at a championship level.”
Wheeler spent the 2024-25 season with Drake, where he was part of a historic run. The Bulldogs won a program-record 31 games and claimed both the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships. Their season included a notable 67-57 first-round NCAA Tournament win over sixth-seeded Missouri.
Wheeler played a key role in retooling Drake’s roster, helping bring in 10 new players between transfers and freshmen. Among them was Bennett Stirtz, who earned MVC Larry Bird Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors, while also being a finalist for the Riley Wallace and Lou Henson Awards.
“My wife and I are thrilled to be joining the University of Iowa,” said Wheeler. “This program is steeped in tradition, backed by an amazing fan base, and built on a strong culture of hard work. I’m eager to recruit and develop student-athletes who will represent Hawkeye Nation with pride. I’m honored to be here and ready to get started.”
Before arriving in Des Moines, Connor Wheeler spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State, where he played a key role in the program’s historic run to its first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in over two decades.
Wheeler joined SEMO following a three-year tenure at Southern Illinois. He initially served as the director of player development and later transitioned into the director of basketball operations role. In 2018-19, he was the video coordinator at Southern Miss, and from 2016 to 2018, he worked in a similar role as a graduate assistant at Missouri.
As a player, Wheeler had a decorated collegiate career. He was part of the 2011-12 Illinois Wesleyan team that reached the Final Four, earned all-conference and all-region honors at John A. Logan College, won a Division II national championship with Central Missouri in 2014, and wrapped up his playing days at Southern Illinois Edwardsville during the 2015-16 season.
A native of Carbondale, Illinois, Wheeler holds an associate’s degree from John A. Logan College (2015), a bachelor’s degree in human and family development from SIU Edwardsville (2016), and a master’s degree in educational, school, and counseling psychology with a focus on positive coaching from the University of Missouri (2018).
He and his wife, Sammie, are excited to begin this next chapter in Iowa City.
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