IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa has announced that Fran McCaffery is out as men’s basketball head coach. McCaffery led the Iowa program for 15 years. He’s won — and lost — more games than any coach in Hawkeye history.
Athletics Director Beth Goetz calls McCaffery, “a tremendous coach and teacher.”
Iowa missed the past two NCAA Tournaments and hasn’t won a tourney game since 2021. Iowa hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 since Tom Davis’ final season, 1998-’99. Iowa did win the Big Ten Tournament in 2022, the only year in the McCaffery era Iowa won two or more games at the tourney.
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IOWA CITY, IA – NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes shares a laugh with his assistants during the second half against the Texas Abilene Christian Wildcats on November 17, 2013 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery walks to the locker room after being ejected against Illinois during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA – MARCH 6: Forward Payton Sandfort #20 of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs head coach Fran McCaffery during Senior Day presentations before the match-up against the Michigan State Spartans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 6, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes looks on during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on February 25, 2025 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 19: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts to a call during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 19, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY – FEBRUARY 12: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena on February 12, 2025 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 4: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes calls a play during the first half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 4, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
COLUMBUS, OHIO – JANUARY 27: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes talks to Seydou Traore #7 during the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena on January 27, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Iowa 82-65. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) -
MADISON, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 03: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes (R) talks with head coach Greg Gard of the Wisconsin Badgers before the game at Kohl Center on January 03, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) -
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 24: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes and assistant coach Sherman Dillard call in a play during the second half of the second round of the men’s basketball National Invitation Tournament (NIT) game against the Utah Utes at the Jon M Huntsman Center on March 24, 2024 in Salt Lake City Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) -
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – JANUARY 30: Fran McCaffery the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on January 30, 2024 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) -
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – MARCH 09: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes high fives Connor McCaffery #30 against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the second half of the second round in the Big Ten Tournament at United Center on March 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- JANUARY 05: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes yells in the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on January 5, 2023 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- DECEMBER 08: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs wife Margaret McCaffery and sons Connor MCaffery #30 and Patrick McCaffery #22 after securing his 500th career win during the match-up against the Iowa State Cyclones at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on December 8, 2022 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- DECEMBER 08: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs his son Patrick MCaffery #22 after securing his 500th career win during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on December 8, 2022 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- DECEMBER 08: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes argues a call during the first half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on December 8, 2022 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
NEWARK, NJ – NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Shaheen Holloway of the Seton Hall Pirates(L) with head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes after the game at Prudential Center on November 16, 2022 in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) -
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – MARCH 16: Head coaches Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars and Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes hug during the practice sessions of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – First Round at the KeyBank Center on March 16, 2022 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) -
ANN ARBOR, MI – MARCH 03: Iowa Hawkeye Head Coach Fran McCaffery embraces Jace Howard #25 of the Michigan Wolverines following the B1G basketball game at Crisler Arena on March 3, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images) -
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – MARCH 03: Head Basketball Coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes watches his team during the second half of a college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on March 03, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Iowa Hawkeyes won the game 82-71 over the Michigan Wolverines. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) -
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes smiles during the first half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 13, 2021 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- DECEMBER 11: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes yells at his team during a timeout in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on December 11, 2020 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes walks off the court after the match-up against the Southern Jaguars at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on November 27, 2020 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- JANUARY 31: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes argues after receiving a technical foul in the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on January 31, 2023 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- JANUARY 05: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes is restrained in the second half during a confrontation with the Indiana Hoosiers bench at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, on January 5, 2023 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 11: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes speaks to media during Big Ten Media Days at Target Center on October 11, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- FEBRUARY 28: Guard Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs his father head coach Fran McCaffery after getting subbed out late in the second half of the match-up against the Northwestern Wildcats at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 28, 2022 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- JANUARY 22: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes argues in the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on January 22, 2020 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- JANUARY 22: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes before the start of the match-up against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on January 22, 2020 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
COLLEGE PARK, MD – JANUARY 7:
Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery is pushed back after running onto the court to disagree with a foul call during the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Xfinity Center on Sundday, January 7, 2018. McCaffery was ejected from the game. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- JANUARY 24: Head coach Fran McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes argues a call in the first half against the Michigan State Spartans on January 24, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
EAST LANSING, MI – DECEMBER 03: Head coach Fran Mccaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes sits on the bench in the first half during a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on December 3, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 15: Basketball head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes jokes with jokes with recruits while touring the sidelines before the match-up against the Northern Iowa Panthers, on September 15, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 28: Jordan Bohannon #3 of the Iowa Hawkeyes high fives head coach Fran McCaffery following their 96-87 win against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the Big Ten Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on February 28, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) -
COLUMBUS, OH – FEBRUARY 10: Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery looks on in a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Iowa Hawkeyes on February 10, 2018 at Value City Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) -
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 19: Iowa Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fran McCaffery speaks at the 2017 Big Ten Basketball Media Day at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA – JANUARY 19: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes yells at officials after the match-up against the Maryland Terrapins, on January 19, 2017 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 17: Head basketball coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes gives recruits a tour of the stadium before the match-up against the North Dakota State Bisons on September 17, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
DES MOINES, IA – DECEMBER 19: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first half against the Drake Bulldogs on December 19, 2015 during the Hy-Vee Big Four Classic at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA – MARCH 8: Guard Roy Devyn Marble #4 and head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes during senior recognition before the match-up against the Illinois Fighting Illini on March 8, 2014 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
MADISON, WI – JANUARY 20: Head Coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes stands on the sidelines during the game against Wisconsin Badgers at Kohl Center on January 20, 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA – JANUARY 17: Head coach Thad Matta of the Ohio State Buckeyes visits with head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes, before their match-up on January 17, 2015 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA – MARCH 9: Fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes cheer with an over-sized face of head coach Fran McCaffery during the second half of the match-up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on March 9, 2013 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 74-60. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA – JANUARY 31: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes confronts guard Roy Devyn Marble #4 during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions on January 31, 2013 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA- JANUARY 10: Guard Branden Dawson #22 of the Michigan State Spartans is helped up off the floor during the first half by head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes on January 10, 2013 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Michigan State won 62-59. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA- JANUARY 10: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes argues a call during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans on January 10, 2013 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Michigan State won 62-59. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA- JANUARY 10: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans greets head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes before their match-up on January 10, 2013 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA – DECEMBER 7: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes greets head coach Fred Hoiberg of the Iowa State Cyclones before their match-up on December 7, 2012 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa defeated Iowa State 80-71. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA – DECEMBER 7: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes coaches during the second half against the Iowa State Cylones on December 7, 2012 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa defeated Iowa State 80-71. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
IOWA CITY, IA- DECEMBER 7: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes yells during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones on December 7, 2012 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa defeated Iowa State 80-71. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) -
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 09: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes talks with Josh Oglesby #2 against the Michigan State Spartans during their quarterfinal game of 2012 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Conferene Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 9, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) -
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 09: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes coaches during the Big Ten Conference game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 9, 2011 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) -
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – JANUARY 09: Head coach Fran McCaffery of the Iowa Hawkeyes coaches during the Big Ten Conference game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena on January 9, 2011 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) -
Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery, back left, waits to see if he was ejected against Illinois during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
McCaffery coached seven first team All-Big Ten players including national player of the year, Luka Garza.
McCaffery had vocal support from many current and former players, as well as some Hawkeye fans. However, overall fan apathy reached a new low this season with Carver-Hawkeye Arena two-thirds empty. NIL money has also been a challenge.
McCaffery has three years remaining on his contract and is owed $4.2 million, which can be paid over that time.
The highly anticipated search for McCaffery’s successor begins immediately.
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