Iowa Men's basketball parted ways with Head Coach Fran McCaffery after 15 years. McCaffery was three wins away from achieving 300 at Iowa (297). McCaffery will go down as the best coach in Iowa Men's Basketball history as he leaves the program as the all-time winningest coach.
McCaffery led Iowa to a conference championship in 2022 and seven NCAA Tournament appearances, but never made it out of the second round.
Iowa failed to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season after falling to Illinois in the Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes' shortcomings in the NCAA Tournament are a key factor in why McCaffery was let go.
Fans have not been shy about their feelings towards McCaffery over the past few seasons. The polarizing head coach had fallen out of favor with the fans before being fired.
Even though fans wanted him sacked, current and former players have expressed love for the fiery head coach.
Thank you Coach for changing my life, and the lives of so many others. You believed in a way that not many others did. Choosing to play in the black and gold was the best decision I have ever made for a lot of reasons, but mainly because I was able to be coached by you. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/eMUvxb12gw
— Luka Garza ✞ (@LukaG_55) March 14, 2025
Luka Garza is widely considered to be the best Iowa Men's Basketball player of all time. Garza showed his support for McCaffery after he gave him a chance to play in the black and gold.
Under McCaffery's tutelage, Garza was the Consensus National Player of the Year in college basketball in 2021 and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021. He was the first player in Iowa history to be named the conference player of the year twice.
Garza left Iowa as the all-time leader in scoring with 2,306 total points and previously held the record for most points in a season in 2021 (747). Keegan Murray broke his season record in 2022 with 822 total points.
Garza also ranked second all-time in Iowa history in rebounds with 931.
He was extremely appreciative of the faith McCaffery showed in him and made his feelings know on social media.
You changed my life forever and I’ll always be thankful for the chance you took on me!! Love you coach!!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/1jPX3aMNDe
— Aaron White (@Aaron_White30) March 15, 2025
Ohio native and former Hawkeye standout Aaron White is also pouring out his support on social media.
Aaron White was a force for Iowa the minute he stepped on campus. He averaged double figures in every season of his career from 2011-2015, with his highest per-game total coming in his senior season (16.4).
White left Iowa ranked fourth all-time in points (1,859) and rebounds (901). He used the experience he got under McCaffery to succeed in European Basketball. He has over five championship titles spread across Europe. He currently plays for the Toyama Grouses in Japan.
White credits McCaffery for changing his life by taking a chance on him.
My guy for life!! A coach who has always had my back through thick & thin. Grateful for everything Coach McCaffery did for me & for the University of Iowa.
— Nicholas Baer (@Nicholas_Baer) March 14, 2025
Thanks for giving a skinny kid from Bettendorf a chance ❤️ pic.twitter.com/547ChHV9MG
Nicholas Baer is another former player who blossomed under McCaffery. Baer was a staple of the Iowa Men's Basketball program from 2015-2019.
Baer was a glue/hustle guy who gave the Hawkeyes much-needed toughness on both ends during his time in Iowa City.
Baer has been a staunch defender of McCaffery and fires back at anyone who takes shots at him on social media. For example, television sports anchor Chris Hassel posted on X that he gives Fran a C+ for the job he has done as head coach, and Baer was having none of that.
He responded to Hassel on X, saying he's the winningest coach in program history, and he took Iowa from a bottom-dweller to a contender. To give him a C+ is just flat wrong.
Baer showed McCaffery all the love after he gave a "skinny kid from Bettendorf" a chance.
Thank you coach for allowing me to play for you and be a small part of your coaching career. The media can say whatever they want but I am forever thankful for the opportunity to play for you. I wouldn’t be the basketball player i am without you. I love you Coach McCaffery. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/N64ITAuxs2
— Owen Freeman (@_OwenFreeman) March 14, 2025
Current Iowa Basketball star Owen Freeman is another Hawkeye showing love to his former coach on social media.
Freeman burst onto the scene in 2023 as a freshman. He averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game en route to being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He continued that momentum into his second season.
Freeman was Iowa's leading scorer (16.7) and rebounder (6.7) before having season-ending hand surgery in February.
Freeman credited McCaffery in a social media post on X and stated he was thankful for the opportunity to play at Iowa under Fran.
man , 3 years ago you took a chance on a 6ft kid from moline . you had my back from the day i got on campus and i’m forever grateful for everything you have done for me and my family . love you coach , truly one of the best in the business❤️ pic.twitter.com/D0fAuVIMyC
— brock harding (@hardingbrock2) March 14, 2025
Another current basketball player, Brock Harding, is showing his support for Coach McCaffery.
Harding credits McCaffery for taking a chance on him and allowing him to play for the Hawkeyes. He wants everyone to be aware that Coach McCaffery always supported him and had his back during his time at Iowa.
Harding stated he is grateful for everything McCaffery did for him and loves him.
McCaffery is much-maligned in the media, and fans have called for his resignation for several years. However, one thing no one can dispute is how popular Fran McCaffery was with his players.