Fran McCaffery, the long-time head coach of the University of Iowa’s men’s basketball team, was reportedly fired after 15 seasons leading the program. His dismissal came just one day after he was ejected during Iowa’s loss to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament. This marks the second consecutive season that the Hawkeyes have failed to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, which likely contributed to the university’s decision. Footage of McCaffery’s ejection quickly spread across social media, fueling discussions about the coach’s departure.
Shortly after news of his firing broke, his son, Connor McCaffery, took to social media with a cryptic response. Connor, a former Iowa player and current assistant coach at Butler, posted three clown emojis on X (formerly Twitter) before deleting the message. While he did not provide any direct explanation, the post stirred speculation about his feelings toward his father’s dismissal. His recent social media activity had previously included a retweet celebrating his father’s milestone 200th win at Iowa and a heartfelt post featuring two heart emojis over a video of an emotional interview his father gave after a victory earlier in the season.
Connor McCaffery played under his father at Iowa for six seasons from 2017 to 2023, making him a significant part of the program’s history. Throughout his college career, he appeared in 166 games, ranking second in school history. Despite dealing with injuries, he maximized his eligibility with the help of a redshirt year and the COVID-19 extension. Over his career, he contributed 4.5 points and three rebounds per game while maintaining an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.59—one of the best in NCAA history. His presence on the team coincided with multiple NCAA tournament appearances, though Iowa never made it past the second round under his father’s leadership.
Beyond basketball, Connor’s time at Iowa led to his relationship with Caitlin Clark, the standout player for the university’s women’s team. The two began dating in April 2023, shortly after Clark led Iowa to the NCAA championship game. With Connor transitioning into coaching after graduation, the couple has remained in the basketball world, albeit on different paths. His father’s departure from Iowa marks the end of an era for the McCaffery family, leaving questions about what’s next for both Fran and his son.
Fran McCaffery leaves Iowa as the program’s all-time wins leader with a record of 297-207. Under his leadership, the team made seven NCAA tournament appearances, reaching the second round four times but never advancing to the Sweet 16. Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic canceling the 2020 tournament, that number might have been higher. As Iowa turns the page to a new coaching era, Fran’s legacy remains, while his son’s cryptic post suggests lingering emotions about the abrupt end of his father’s tenure.
