Iowa moves on from Fran McCaffery after Big Ten Tournament ejection

On Thursday, Iowa’s season came to an end with a 106-94 loss to Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. Now, a day later, the Hawkeyes are reportedly planning to move on from head coach Fran McCaffery after 15 years in Iowa City. 

McCaffery has missed the last two NCAA Tournaments and only advanced beyond the first weekend of March Madness once during his extensive tenure. McCaffery took over for Steve Alford in 2010 and led the Hawkeyes to eight 20-win seasons and seven NCAA Tournament appearances. However, defensive issues have persisted and the program appears to have plateaued, so Iowa is going in a different direction. 

The longtime head coach has a reputation for his explosive offense and fiery attitude, both of which were on display in a fitting end to his tenure. The Hawkeyes shot 55% from the field against the Fighting Illini and senior Payton Sandfort led the way with 30 points. However, McCaffery was not on the court for the end of Sandfort’s career with the Hawkeyes because he was ejected midway through the second half. 

The writing appeared to be on the wall for McCaffery heading to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament, which may have fueled his frustration. Iowa would have needed an impressive run from a No. 15 seed, the final team to make the Big Ten Tournament, to a conference title to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and save his job. 

The Hawkeyes began the tournament with a 77-70 win over Ohio State, McCaffery’s 297th at Iowa and 548th all-time. McCaffery first became a head coach in 1985 at Lehigh, leading the program to the 1988 NCAA Tournament in his third year. He then became an assistant at Notre Dame before taking over UNC Greensboro in 1999. 

Iowa is the second Big Ten program to fire its head coach after a Big Ten Tournament exit. Minnesota moved on from Ben Johnson on Thursday. The Hawkeyes, Golden Gophers, and Indiana Hoosiers will all be looking for a new head coach this offseason with Mike Woodson stepping down in Bloomington. Because of McCaffery’s sustained success, Iowa is likely the second-most appealing job of the options, firmly ahead of the Minnesota job.