The Big Ten conference is one of the most prominent in college basketball. The 2025-26 season has been no different, with three programs currently among the top seven in the country. There are also a handful of programs with a long history, currently led by a first-year head coach. Four programs in the Big Ten, to be exact. For this conference to be the best, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, and Minnesota all need their new coaches to live up to expectations. For the most part, all four of the new coaches in the conference have.
Now, with some conference games having been played, it’s time to give a grade for each of the four coaches’ performances thus far.
Grading the First Year Big Ten Coaches so Far
Darian DeVries – Indiana
It appears the Hoosiers picked the right coach, or at least for the first seven games. Indiana started the season 7-0 and even made it into the Top 25 rankings. Then they opened Big Ten play on the road. With a completely new roster headlined by transfers Tucker DeVries and Reed Bailey, expectations were very high. In their Big Ten debut, the new-look Hoosiers fell short, as they were outhustled by Minnesota. That was certainly a sour start to the Big Ten for Coach DeVries.
They have a chance to get back on track with their clash with Top 10-ranked Louisville in Indianapolis on Saturday. Still, this could’ve been an A-plus job by DeVries had they won their conference opener.
DeVries gets an A-
Ben McCollum – Iowa
Another massive hire in the offseason, who also brought plenty of playmakers along with him. Ben McCollum might have well have brought all of Drake University with him. The Hawkeyes had a hot start, winning each of their first seven games, including the Acrisure Classic Championship. Star transfer Bennett Stirtz has been the driving force, but Iowa got a rude awakening in its Big Ten opener. Coach McCollum’s team couldn’t keep up with Tom Izzo’s Michigan State. Plenty more time for this group to get it right, but that game certainly showed that they have a lot of work to do to stay competitive against Purdue and Michigan when they meet.
McCollum gets a B+
Buzz Williams – Maryland
By far the biggest name hire of the four. Buzz Williams has now coached in four of the five major conferences. He had a lot of work to do when he took the job in College Park, especially with the sudden departure of the previous coach. A team that reached the Sweet 16 in 2024-25. While there have been growing pains with three losses in their first nine games, the most shocking was the 10-point home loss to Georgetown. Williams has a nice group built around Pharrel Payne, David Coit, and Myles Rice, who all have plenty of experience. Not to mention a nice freshman guard duo of Darius Adams and Aleks Alston. This team fights, and they have plenty of opportunities ahead to make some noise.
Williams gets a B
Niko Medved- Minnesota
A 5-4 start isn’t the prettiest, but Niko Medved’s team made a real statement this week. Not only did they win their Big Ten opener, but they also beat a Top 25-ranked Indiana in doing so. Not a bad victory to snap a three-game losing streak. Cade Tyson currently leads the Big Ten in scoring average. Jaylen Crocker-Johnson has proven to fit well in the Big Ten on the glass. They go to No. 1-ranked Purdue for their next game. Can Medved pull off another shocker? The talent might not all be there yet for Minnesota, but one thing they do have is heart, and a coach who isn’t afraid to punch above his weight class, obviously.
Medved gets a C
Featured Image: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
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