Iowa Hawkeyes Dismiss Fran McCaffery as Men’s Head Basketball Coach

I mean, we saw this coming; right Hawkeye fans? After 15 seasons, Fran McCaffery’s time as Iowa men's head basketball coach has ended. According to Black Heart Gold Pants and ESPN, the Hawkeyes have decided to part ways with McCaffery following their season-ending 106-94 loss to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament — a game that saw McCaffery ejected in the second half.

McCaffery leaves Iowa as the winningest coach in program history, finishing with a record of 297-207. He led the Hawkeyes to seven NCAA Tournament appearances but never managed to break through to the Sweet 16. Known for his fast-paced, high-scoring offenses, McCaffery’s teams often struggled defensively.

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Injuries didn’t help Iowa’s cause this year either. Key players like Cooper Koch, Owen Freeman, Seydou Traore, and Drew Thelwell all missed significant time. Meanwhile, forward Payton Sandfort remarkably played in every game despite battling a broken wrist and two shoulder dislocations.

While McCaffery brought Iowa back from some of the program’s darkest days, the past two seasons have been rough. With back-to-back years out of the NCAA Tournament and dwindling attendance numbers, it increasingly felt like a change was coming, it was just a matter of when.

Now, Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz will look for McCaffery’s replacement. Early buzz suggests West Virginia’s Darian DeVries and Drake’s Ben McCollum are strong candidates. Both coaches are known for very different styles. That could signal a major shift for the Iowa basketball program.

For now, Hawkeye fans are left to reflect on McCaffery’s legacy — a coach who brought excitement back to Iowa basketball, developed NBA-level talent like Luka Garza and the Murray brothers, and always wore his emotions on his sleeve.