Division II Coach and Star Reach Elite Eight at Iowa

Ben McCollum slammed his whiteboard so hard the marker shattered, spraying ink across the court. His Iowa team was down 10 points to Nebraska in the Sweet 16, and the fiery coach wasn't holding back.

Standing next to him was Bennett Stirtz, his star guard who barely flinched. "He was just telling us we sucked and we were soft," Stirtz said after Iowa's comeback win with a smile.

These polar opposites have been together through three schools and four NCAA tournaments. They started at Division II Northwest Missouri State in 2022, moved to Drake last year, and landed at Iowa this season.

Now they're in the Elite Eight, the furthest they've ever advanced at any level. Iowa hasn't reached the Final Four since 1980, and this 10-10 Big Ten team wasn't supposed to be the one to break that streak.

Stirtz followed McCollum from Division II to Division I, improving every step of the way. He was Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year at Drake, then earned second-team All-Big Ten honors this season with 19.7 points per game.

But he saves his best for March. His three-pointer with 2:10 left against Nebraska gave Iowa its first lead of the game, and they never trailed again.

Why This Inspires

Matt Margenthaler, the Minnesota State coach who won the 2024 Division II championship, faced Stirtz and McCollum during their Division II days. He says their success proves Division II players and coaches belong on the biggest stages.

"You always question when you go up a level, 'Can he do it?'" Margenthaler told ESPN. "And then he just continues to amaze the coaching world with what he can do."

The pairing works because they complement each other perfectly. McCollum brings intensity and demands excellence, while Stirtz stays calm and delivers in clutch moments.

"He shoots it straight, even when it's tough," Stirtz said. "He pushes you past your limit, and I think that's where the trust comes in."

This is the fourth year they've made the NCAA tournament together. They lost in the Division II second round in 2023, fell in the Division II Sweet 16 in 2024, and won one game at Drake last year before losing to an Elite Eight team.

Now they're the Elite Eight team, facing Illinois on Saturday with a Final Four berth on the line.

"In 20 years, it will be an insane story," McCollum said. "But it's far from over."