Iowa fires basketball coach Fran McCaffery after 15 seasons

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa announced Friday that Fran McCaffery has been dismissed as the head men’s basketball coach after 15 seasons. The decision follows a disappointing season in which the Hawkeyes finished with a 17-16 record and exited the Big Ten Tournament in the second round.

McCaffery, 65, concludes his tenure as Iowa’s all-time winningest coach, tallying a record of 297-207. Under his leadership, the Hawkeyes made seven NCAA Tournament appearances but never advanced beyond the second round.

“Fran McCaffery has been an integral part of our Hawkeye family for the past 15 years. He is a tremendous coach and teacher, and we are grateful for the positive impact he has made on the institution and the community,” said Beth Goetz, Iowa’s athletics director, in a statement. “We have a deep appreciation for his dedication to our student-athletes and his passion for the game that will have a lasting impact on our program.”

This season, Iowa had a Big Ten record of 7-13, finishing 12th in the conference. The year ended with a loss to Illinois, where McCaffery was ejected in the second half after receiving two technical fouls for arguing with officials. Fan attendance at home games was notably low, with just 33.6% of available seats filled throughout the regular season.

Although the Hawkeyes showed promise with a 12-4 start to the season, they struggled with consistency, ultimately losing 11 of their final 14 games. Throughout his time at Iowa, McCaffery was known for producing strong offensive teams, ranking in the top 20 for adjusted offensive efficiency during the last eight seasons.

McCaffery’s contract includes a $4.2 million buyout. The university has stated it will begin a national search for a new head coach immediately.

During McCaffery’s tenure, Iowa produced four NBA draft picks since 2021, including top selections such as Keegan Murray. The program enjoyed one of its most successful recent seasons in 2021, when it finished 22-9 and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

In summary, while McCaffery had periods of success, including an NIT championship in 2022, recent struggles alongside dwindling attendance at games led to his dismissal as Iowa seeks new leadership moving forward.