Fran McCaffery took over as University of Iowa’s head men’s basketball coach in 2010. Since then, McCaffery has been a regular on the sideline. He has had 15 seasons at the helm and led the Hawkeyes to national relevance, making seven NCAA Tournament appearances and recording an impressive 297-207 record.
After Ejection, Will Fran McCaffery Continue as Head Coach?
Under McCaffery, the Hawkeyes have had 20-win seasons and even a Big Ten Tournament title in 2022. To add on, they have been consistently placed in the upper half of the conference standings.
However, despite all these achievements, there’s one glaring omission from McCaffery’s résumé. He has never been able to lead Iowa past the first weekend of March Madness. Now, with the unfortunate moments from the last Hawkeyes game, he might never be able to do the same.
This season was nothing like 2022 for McCaffery’s team. The Hawkeyes went on to lose in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. They lost 106-94 to Illinois. However, it was not the loss that has left the world with questions.
Mid-game, McCaffery was ejected after picking up two technical fouls. The moment almost felt like a symbolic end to his tenure. Onlookers, including players, reacted with a sense of finality, with standout Payton Sandfort even falling to his knees.
After the game, college basketball insider Jeff Goodman reported on ‘The Field of 68’ that there is a chance that Iowa might part ways with Fran McCaffery. After 15 long years, the Hawkeyes might be bidding adieu to their beloved coach.
Goodman was not the only one to say the same. Analyst Mike LaTulip also pointed out that the ejection might be the end of an era. Beyond the unfortunate theatrics of the Illinois game, McCaffery’s legacy at Iowa remains a mixed bag.
While it is true that he has built a competitive program and kept the Hawkeyes in the national conversation, the inability to advance past the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament has been a sticking point. Additionally, the Hawkeyes have of course produced some big NBA names but never been able to break through to the Sweet 16 under his leadership.
Despite the 17-16 record this season, Iowa has struggled with Big Ten play, finishing with a 7-13 mark. The team, in fact, didn’t win a road game until mid-February. However, Fran McCaffery remains optimistic.
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After the Illinois game, McCaffery was asked if he expected to coach Iowa next year. He simply said, “I do.” Additionally, not everybody seems to think that McCaffery must be replaced. Michigan State’s Tom Izzo defended McCaffery, citing the challenges of coaching at Iowa, particularly when it comes to resources.
The coming days will decide McCaffery’s fate. The only question is, will they stick to their long-time coach for the College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas? Or will they make a quick move to get better results?
If McCaffery’s replaced, he will be finishing his 15 season time without a single Sweet 16 run.
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