Fran McCaffery reportedly out at Iowa after 15 seasons
The Fran McCaffery era in Iowa City is over.
The Hawkeyes are reportedly firing their longtime coach, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, ending his 15-year run with the program after one of his worst seasons to date.
McCaffery was hired ahead of the 2010-11 campaign after an impressive run at Siena, where he won three straight MAAC titles to reach the NCAA tournament. While McCaffery led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA tournament seven times, including once after they won the Big Ten tournament, they never made it past the first weekend. They were a No. 2 seed in 2021, the highest the team earned under McCaffery’s watch, but they were knocked out in the second round in a 15-point rout by Oregon.
[Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem is back: Enter for a shot to win up to $50K]
This past season was particularly rough for the Hawkeyes, who almost missed out on the Big Ten tournament completely. They posted just a 16-15 record, and won only six games since the start of the new year. Iowa closed out the regular season by losing five of its last seven games, too, which dropped it nearly to the bottom of the Big Ten standings. If it weren't for a win over Nebraska in their regular season finale, the Hawkeyes wouldn't have made it into the Big Ten tournament at all.
While the Hawkeyes upset Ohio State to get out of the first round of the Big Ten tournament, Illinois rolled to a 106-94 win in their second-round game. McCaffery was actually ejected from that game for screaming at the officials in the second half, which marked a bit of a perfect ending for the coach.
McCaffery finished with a 297-206 overall record over his 15 seasons with the Hawkeyes, which marked his first head coaching job at a Power 5 school. He previously had short stints leading Lehigh and UNC Greensboro. The coach was particularly known for his frequent sideline outbursts, which prompted the "Francon Alert System" and even led to a wild referee staredown in 2023.
McCaffery’s current contract with Iowa runs through the 2027-28 campaign. His deal includes a $4.2 million buyout, though the Hawkeyes can spread that out over the next three years to make that cost less than $1.5 million per season.
The Hawkeyes have a decent recruiting class set to come in next fall, including a pair of four-star Rivals.com recruits in Badara Diakite and Joshua Lewis. It’s unclear if they will opt to stick around under new leadership, whoever the Hawkeyes end up hiring.
Regardless, the Hawkeyes are moving on from a coach who failed to take them on a deep tournament run despite several promising opportunities over the years. Fair or not, that will be a benchmark for the new head coach to hit almost immediately.
Topics
-
Iowa reportedly fires men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery after 15 seasons
Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery has reportedly been fired after 15 seasons with the HawkeyesYahoo Sports - 5h -
Iowa fires Fran McCaffery: Longtime coach out after Hawkeyes miss NCAA Tournament for second straight season
Iowa finished 12th in the Big Ten in the regular season, the worst during the 15-year McCaffery eraCBS Sports - 5h -
Iowa dismisses coach McCaffery after 15 seasons
Iowa's men's basketball program dismissed McCaffery after 15 seasons as coach of the Hawkeyes, the school announced Friday.ESPN - 24m -
Hawkeyes' worst season in 7 years prompts firing of Fran McCaffery, program's all-time wins leader
Iowa fired coach Fran McCaffery on Friday after the Hawkeyes won their fewest games and had their lowest Big Ten regular-season finish in seven years. The 65-year-old McCaffery, who was under ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Iowa basketball coaching candidates: 8 names who could replace Fran McCaffery
After Iowa fired Fran McCaffery, here's a look at eight candidates the Hawkeyes could hire as their next basketball coach, including Drake's Ben McCollum.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery ejected during Big Ten Tournament game against No. 24 Illinois
Iowa coach Fran McCaffery was ejected after drawing two technical fouls midway through the second half of a Big Ten Tournament second-round game against No. 24 Illinois on Thursday night. As the ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
How social media reacted to Iowa basketball firing Fran McCaffery
Here's how Iowa basketball fans reacted across social media to the news that the Hawkeyes had fired head coach Fran McCaffery.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Initial Iowa basketball head coach candidates list
Fran McCaffery is out as Iowa head men's basketball coach. Who is next? Check out an initial list of potential head coach candidates.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
WATCH: Iowa coach Fran McCaffery ejected from Big Ten Tournament game for jawing with officials
McCaffery earned two quick technicals and an ejection after disagreeing with a call midway through the second halfCBS Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes ready for more late-night food options in Las Vegas
Ex-Packers cornerback Eric Stokes is looking forward to having more late-night food options while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Lakers vs Nuggets: Live updates and highlights
Live updates and highlights from Friday's game between the Lakers and Nuggets.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Russell Wilson, Giants meet as Aaron Rodgers option seems increasingly unlikely
NEW YORK — Russell Wilson visited the Giants on Friday in East Rutherford, N.J., as the Aaron Rodgers option continued to fade into murkier view. No one can say for sure what Rodgers, 41, will ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Get the bubble wrap: Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and friends look ready for Brewers opening day
An 11-5 win showcased nearly all of the Brewers' top players on offense FridayYahoo Sports - 23m -
Plenty of big names missed the cut at the 2025 Players Championship. See the list here
Many notables won’t sleep so easy thinking about what went wrong at TPC Sawgrass.Yahoo Sports - 26m
More in Sports
-
Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes ready for more late-night food options in Las Vegas
Ex-Packers cornerback Eric Stokes is looking forward to having more late-night food options while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Lakers vs Nuggets: Live updates and highlights
Live updates and highlights from Friday's game between the Lakers and Nuggets.Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Russell Wilson, Giants meet as Aaron Rodgers option seems increasingly unlikely
NEW YORK — Russell Wilson visited the Giants on Friday in East Rutherford, N.J., as the Aaron Rodgers option continued to fade into murkier view. No one can say for sure what Rodgers, 41, will ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
How the sporting goods industry is bracing for tariffs
Economists and industry advocates say tariffs would have a direct impact on the sports world.ESPN - 22m -
Get the bubble wrap: Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and friends look ready for Brewers opening day
An 11-5 win showcased nearly all of the Brewers' top players on offense FridayYahoo Sports - 23m