Ben McCollum, the new head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team, is assembling an impressive group of assistant coaches—one that’s likely to make waves across the college basketball landscape.
His most recent hire is a major one: former Texas Tech assistant Luke Barnwell is heading to Iowa City.
The move is especially interesting considering Barnwell was part of the Texas Tech squad that eliminated McCollum’s Drake team from the NCAA Tournament. But there’s no hard feelings—McCollum saw something special in Barnwell and brought him on board because of his unique skill set.
“I’ve known Luke for years,” McCollum said in a statement. “He’s an outstanding recruiter, an excellent coach, and has had tremendous success at the prep level. He also brings Power 5 experience, having worked with one of the best in the business, Grant McCasland. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the program.”
While Barnwell’s recruiting chops are impressive, what makes this hire truly valuable in today’s era of NIL deals and the transfer portal is his proven ability to develop NBA-ready talent.
At Texas Tech, Barnwell played a key role in shaping Big 12 Player of the Year JT Toppin, who averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds last season and is projected to be a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Before his time at Texas Tech, Barnwell spent a decade as head coach at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, where he helped mold future NBA players like Kennedy Chandler, Kendall Brown, Gradey Dick, and Ochai Agbaji. He also worked with pros like Buddy Hield and Ron Baker.
Barnwell brings exactly what McCollum needs: a development-focused coach who can help elevate the Hawkeyes to national relevance and make Iowa a serious destination for NBA hopefuls.
He could end up as McCollum’s lead assistant in 2025, joining Connor Wheeler, Josh Sash, and Bryston Williams—three coaches who followed McCollum from Drake.
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