Fran McCaffery

Fran McCaffery is a seasoned college basketball coach recognized for developing programs and leading teams to significant victories, now returning to his alma mater at Penn. After leading the Ivy League in assists (105) and steals (51) during his senior year in 1981-82, Fran McCaffery earned the Bus MacDonald Award as Penn’s most inspirational player. Following graduation, McCaffery transitioned into coaching, beginning as an assistant varsity coach at Penn before becoming the youngest Division I head coach at Lehigh in 1985. McCaffery’s coaching prowess led Siena to three consecutive MAAC regular season and conference tournament championships from 2008 to 2010, earning him MAAC Coach of the Year (2009) and NABC District I Coach of the Year (2009-10).

Throughout his 43-year coaching career, including 29 seasons as a head coach across four institutions, he has amassed an overall record of 548-384 (.588 winning percentage). He notably transformed inherited programs from a collective 35-84 (.204) record prior to his arrival to a combined 89-45 (.664) by their third year. His 15-year tenure at the University of Iowa saw McCaffery become the Hawkeyes’ all-time winningest coach with 297 victories, surpassing Tom Davis during the 2023-24 season. The team reached the NIT championship game in 2013 and secured a Big Ten Tournament title in 2022.

Rockwell Head Coach of Men’s Basketball on March 27, 2025.