The Iowa Hawkeyes have chosen to move on from head coach Fran McCaffery after 15 seasons with the program. The long-time Iowa head coach truly left his final game with Iowa with a bang as the known big personality coach was ejected from Iowa's matchup against Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament with 13:33 left in the second half after receiving a double technical for arguing with the refs.
McCaffery will leave quite the legacy at Iowa with eight NCAA Tournament appearances and four NIT appearances in his 15 years of coaching with the Hawkeyes.
Even after a tough season, Iowa fans know the impact McCaffery had on the program, and while some are happy to see him go, most are thanking the long-time head coach for what he did for the program and the lives he touched while he was there.
Fran McCaffery gave Iowa everything he had and then some.
— Jordan Loperena (@JordanLoperena) March 14, 2025
Elevated the program to a level that seemed well out of reach when he took over.
The way he embraced Chris Street’s legacy and family will always stick with me.
Fran’s time as a Hawkeye should be remembered fondly.
McCaffery certainly did a lot for the Iowa program, and fans can't forget that after one really rough season. The Iowa basketball program would not be where it is today if it wasn't for McCaffery.
An ode to Fran McCaffery. pic.twitter.com/teBCQYiTio
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 14, 2025
He was certainly a character who did not back down from anyone, and that certainly was the case in his final game. It was very Fran McCaffery-like to be ejected in his final game of his career at Iowa after receiving a double-technical foul for arguing with the refs.
I don't know Fran McCaffery personally, but as a fellow parent, I see the children he has raised and the men he has developed over the past 15 years. The wins are great, but at the end of the day, the mark you have left in someone's life is what really matters. #Hawkeyes 💛🖤
— Michele (@chelfish74) March 14, 2025
That is a long time to spend with a program, and McCaffery certainly saw a lot of players through his program and did a lot of great things both on and off the court.
I will always like Fran McCaffery. Brought the program back to be more than respectable again from absolute hell. Great players. And I just liked his personality.
— Tmac (@tmcandrew21) March 14, 2025
His personality was unlike anyone else's typically, you could tell how Iowa was doing based on the redness on his face from yelling at the team.
I remember when Iowa basketball made the NIT in 2012.
— Ethanol the Hawkeye Fan (@ethanprice) March 14, 2025
I was 21 and they hadn’t made any postseason since my freshman year of high school.
It was incredibly exciting. Everyone was ecstatic.
Overall, Fran McCaffery changed the program for the better.
If there is one thing McCaffery was able to do, it was take Iowa to some sort of postseason tournament consistently. Only a few seasons did he not make any sort of postseason tournament, and he made the NCAA Tournament eight times in 15 seasons.
Big Ten basketball will never be the same. Pour one out for Fran McCaffery tonight.
— Brett Nigref (@FergyFerg_) March 14, 2025
I hope we get to see him go manic on the sidelines at another university sometime very soon. pic.twitter.com/x7hsYCW2AF
There will never be anyone quite like Fran McCaffery on the sideline.
Thank you, Fran McCaffery and family. #GoHawks #Hawkeyes
— JasonEWhite (@JasonEWhite) March 14, 2025
Short, simple, and sweet. Thank you, Fran McCaffery, for all you did for the Iowa basketball program. The last season may not have gone how you or anyone else wanted it to, but 15 seasons is a lot of time with one program, and it was a great 15 seasons.