SLSM alumni gather to cheer on Iowa coach and fellow graduate

Nearly 100 Storm Lake St. Mary High School graduates and supporters convened upon Iowa City Jan. 3 to cheer on the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team and their head coach, Ben McCollum, 1999 Storm Lake St. Mary alumnus. 

Ryan Berg, director of development and alumni outreach, said around 70 alumni and supporters attended a pregame social in Iowa City. Berg coached McCollum in high school baseball while he was a student.
T-shirts were printed and sold with McCollum's #10 St. Mary basketball jersey with the verbiage, "Coach McCollum fan club." 

The Hawkeyes prevailed over UCLA at the game with a final score of 74 to 61. McCollum was named head coach last spring while he served as head coach at Drake University for their men's team. 

At the time he was named the Hawkeye head coach, McCollum had a record of 426-95 – the “fifth best all-time among collegiate men’s basketball coaches,” according to the University of Iowa sports website. 

McColluMcCollum with current St. Mary students Owen, Nora and Benson Foell, children of SLSM graduate Jeff and Amanda Foell.m garnered numerous awards in his years coaching including NABC Division II coach of the year in 2017, 2019-22 and four NCAA Division II championships coaching Northwest Missouri State University.

McCollum was inducted into the 2020 St. Mary Athletic Hall of Fame for his athletic success while in high school. 

Phil Skamser, McCollum's high school basketball coach, attended the game, as well as several of McCollum's Class of 1999 classmates.

Read our story about McCollum's reflections upon support of his hometown throughout his career HERE.

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