The University of Pennsylvania is making a bold move by appointing Fran McCaffery as its next men’s basketball head coach, according to Sam Federman. McCaffery, a 1982 Wharton graduate, replaces Steve Donahue after Penn’s disappointing 8-19 season.
With 12 NCAA tournament appearances across his career—more than any Ivy League coach at the time of hiring—McCaffery brings a wealth of experience.
Penn Brings in Fran McCaffery to Rebuild Struggling Basketball Team
Over 15 seasons at Iowa and previous stints at Lehigh, UNC Greensboro, and Siena, he built competitive programs. Now, he takes over as the 21st head coach in Quakers history, aiming to restore Penn’s standing in Ivy League basketball.
McCaffery is set to take over as head coach of Penn men’s basketball following his dismissal from Iowa earlier this month. Despite leading the Hawkeyes to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, he never advanced past the Round of 32. He exits as Iowa’s all-time winningest coach with 297 victories.
Penn is nearing a deal with former Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery, per @Sam_Federman.
Fran spent the last 15 years at Iowa, with previous stops at Siena, UNC Greensboro, and Lehigh.
He is a UPenn alum. pic.twitter.com/AEhJ1bJ6uw
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 26, 2025
McCaffery, a 1982 Penn graduate, began his playing career at Wake Forest before transferring to the Quakers in 1979. He later served as a Penn assistant before coaching at Lehigh, where he guided the Mountain Hawks to the NCAA Tournament in 1988.
His coaching journey included 11 years as an assistant at Notre Dame, followed by head coaching roles at UNC Greensboro and Siena. At Siena, he secured three MAAC titles and consecutive NCAA Tournament victories.
Penn sought assistance from Parker Executive Search in hiring McCaffery, who now faces the challenge of revitalizing a declining program. Once dominant in the Ivy League with 23 conference championships between 1970 and 2006, the Quakers have won only two since.
They finished 8-19 in 2024, posting a 4-10 record in Ivy League play. McCaffery now looks to reshape Penn basketball and restore its competitive standing.
