IOWA CITY — New University of Iowa men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has added to his staff with a pair of hirings this week.

Luke Barnwell was named as an assistant on Wednesday, one day after Connor Wheeler was hired to the staff.

Barnwell comes to Iowa City with 14 years of coaching experience, most recently spending two seasons at Texas Tech. He also spent 10 seasons as head coach at Sunrise Christian Academy, where he was named the 2021 and 2022 Naismith High School Boys Coach of the Year and led the team to the 2022 National Interscholastic Basketball Conference Championships.

“I have known Luke for a number of years,” said McCollum. “He is an elite recruiter, excellent coach and has had a ton of success at the prep level. He also has a lot of experience at the Power 5 level with one of the top coaches in the country in Grant McCasland. We’re excited to have Luke join our program.”

In his two seasons at Texas Tech, Barnwell helped lead the Red Raiders to a 51-20 record and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech advanced to the Elite Eight this season.

“I am incredibly blessed to be a part of the University of Iowa and coach McCollum’s staff,” said Barnwell. “My family and I look forward to being back in the Midwest to work for this university, community and program.”

At Sunrise Christian, Barnwell compiled a 178-28 record over his final eight seasons competing against the elite basketball programs across the country.

Wheeler has eight years of coaching experience at Drake (2024-25), Southeast Missouri State (2022-24), Southern Illinois (2019-22), Southern Mississippi (2018-19) and Missouri (2016-18).

“Connor is a great up-and-coming coach,” said McCollum. “His career path has been fast and rightfully so. He’s very talented and will continue to hone his skills at the University of Iowa. He will help us get to a championship level.”

Wheeler joins the Hawkeyes from Drake, where he served as an assistant under McCollum during the 2024-25 season. He assisted in Drake’s complete roster rebuild, as the Bulldogs brought in a combined 10 transfers and first-year players. One of the signees — Bennett Stirtz — was named the MVC Larry Bird Player and Newcomer of the Year, while being a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award and Lou Henson Awards.

“My wife and I couldn’t be more excited to join the University of Iowa family,” said Wheeler. “This program has a rich history, an incredible fan base and a culture of hard work and dedication. I’m excited to recruit and develop exceptional young men that will make Hawkeye nation proud. I’m honored to be a part of this program and can’t wait to get to work.”

Prior to making the move to Des Moines, Wheeler spent two seasons as an assistant at Southeast Missouri State, where he helped guide the program to its first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth in more than 20 years.

As a player, Wheeler was a member of the Final Four team at Illinois Wesleyan in 2011-12. He was an all-conference selection at John A. Logan College, he won a Division II National Championship at Central Missouri in 2014, and he finished his career at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville in 2015-16.