By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

Ben McCollum will have a couple of familiar faces next to him on the bench at Iowa next season.

The new head coach of the Hawkeyes announced on Tuesday that Josh Sash and Bryston Williams, who were assistant coaches with him at Drake this season, will join him as assistants at Iowa.

“Josh has been an integral part of our success at Drake,” McCollum said in a statement. “He continues to impress me with his basketball acumen and his ability to be a sounding board for me as he is a former head coach. We’re so excited to have him on our staff.

“Bryston was my first recruit ever in coaching. He brings an unmatched energy and is relentless in recruiting. He is great with player relationships and will be a huge asset to our program.”

Sash, a native of Oskaloosa, has 22 years of coaching experience, including head coaching stints at Indian Hills Community College (2023-24) and Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) (2019-20). 

“I am ecstatic and beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this staff, under the leadership of Coach McCollum,” said Sash. “As a native Iowan and a lifelong Hawkeye, I cannot wait to ‘Fight for Iowa’, while proudly wearing the black and gold.

“I look forward to humbly serving this program, as we recruit, develop and mentor young men, that all of us as Hawkeyes, will be proud of.  My family and I are so excited to start our journey together in Iowa City.”

Sash also worked as an assistant at UMKC from 2017-19 before taking over as head coach at DMACC the next season season. Sash led the Bears to a 29-4 record, the ICCAC regular and postseason championships and the No. 2 seed in the national tournament.  He was named the NJCAA Region 11 Coach of the Year and guided five NJCAA All-Region 11 performers and four NJCAA All-Academic selections.

Sash, the brother of former Iowa football player Tyler Sash, also spent time as an assistant at State Fair Community College (2010-15), Temple College (2009-10), Providence College (2008-09) and Drake (2007-08).

Williams, a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, has also been an assistant at Wyoming (2023-24) and Indiana State (2021-23), while also spending time in the NBA and D-League.

“My family and I are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Hawkeye community,” said Williams. “We look forward to building great relationships in a special place like Iowa City.”

Williams was a member of McCollum’s first recruiting class at Northwest Missouri State in 2009.  He scored more than 700 points for the Bearcats, where he helped the team to two MIAA Conference championships and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament as a senior.

Williams served as a graduate assistant under McCollum for two seasons, where he was a part of two MIAA titles and Sweet 16 appearances.

Photo: New Iowa coach Ben McCollum announced the hiring of two assistant coaches to his staff. (Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)