The Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team has had an up-and-down year. They have struggled in conference play, leading to a record that hovers around .500. After winning their opening game in the Big Ten Tournament against Ohio State, the Hawkeyes fell to the Illinois Fighting Illini. Throughout the year, many have questioned whether head coach Fran McCaffrey would keep his job. It didn’t take long for us to get an answer. The program has fired the longtime head coach after 15 seasons.
Iowa Hawkeyes Fire Fran McCaffrey
The Iowa Hawkeyes finished the regular season 16-15 but were a disappointing 7-13 in conference play. However, this decision goes beyond just this season. In 15 years, he posted a 297-207 overall record but was only 143-141 in conference play. Additionally, the team didn’t have any deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. In the seven appearances during Fran McCaffrey’s tenure, the program hasn’t made it out of the Round of 32.
The best year the Iowa Hawkeyes had under McCaffrey was in the 2021-22 campaign. He led the team to a 26-10 overall record and won the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2006. Ultimately, the program decided that middling in mediocrity was not the way forward. Things had gotten stale, and a different voice was needed.
What’s Next?
The Iowa Hawkeyes will begin their search immediately, and this job should be a desirable one. The Big Ten is one of the premier conferences in the country, and this program has had a history of winning games. While there may be some upheaval with players initially, a dynamic new coach could infuse excitement into the program. Things are less clear for McCaffrey.
The 65-year-old will have to decide whether he wants to seek out another job or step away from coaching. Before coming to Iowa City, he coached Lehigh, UNC-Greensboro, and Siena. He would likely get looks from mid-major programs looking to bring in a coach with some pedigree. We’ll have to wait and see. McCaffrey’s tenure ended in a blaze of glory as he was ejected for two technical fouls against the Fighting Illini. Who will the Hawkeyes bring in to be the next coach?
