Fran McCaffery is no longer the head coach of the Iowa men’s basketball program. After 15 years in charge of the program, Connor McCaffery’s father is parting ways with the program. And it’s safe to say that the news didn’t set well with his son, who once suited up for the Hawkeyes himself.

Fran’s dismissal ends a tenure that saw him become Iowa’s all-time winning-est coach with 297 victories, though his exit has sparked a mix of gratitude and contention among fans and family alike.

McCaffery took over ahead of the 2010-11 season after a successful stint at Siena, where he won three straight MAAC titles and reached the NCAA tournament each time. During his time at Iowa, he led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA tournament seven times, including a Big Ten tournament title. But success was limited. Iowa never made it past the first weekend. Their best shot came in 2021 when they earned a No. 2 seed, only to get bounced in the second round by Oregon in a 15-point blowout. That 95-80 loss on March 22, 2021, per NCAA.com, epitomized Fran’s tenure—flashes of brilliance undermined by postseason flops.

Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend, who spent six years at Iowa, didn’t hold back his frustration. He took to X and simply posted, “🤡🤡🤡” — making his feelings about the decision crystal clear. But there were reasons behind McCaffery’s departure.

The Iowa Hawkeyes were on the verge of missing the Big Ten tournament this season, finishing with a disappointing 7-13 conference record and 17-16 overall. To make things worse, they dropped 12 of their last 17 games, including a 12-point loss to Illinois in the second round of the Big Ten tournament– a loss that likely sealed Fran’s fate. The 106-94 defeat on March 13 at Target Center, capped a season where Iowa ranked 10th in Big Ten scoring defense (79.2 PPG allowed), exposing vulnerabilities that clashed with Fran’s offensive reputation, per NCAA stats

With Iowa heading into a new era, the big question now is– who will they target next? Let’s take a closer look.

Potential candidates to replace Fran McCaffery

Darian DeVries stands out as the obvious choice to replace the outgoing head coach. An Iowa native, DeVries played at the University of Northern Iowa and has deep ties to both the state and the university. He spent six seasons as Drake’s head coach, leading the Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back trips in his last two seasons. In 2024, DeVries took the job at West Virginia, where he guided the Mountaineers to a solid 19-13 record this season.

Another option, according to Tyler Tachman, is Ben McCollum–DeVries’s successor at Drake. McCollum has made an immediate impact in his first season, guiding the Bulldogs to a 30-3 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Though it’s his first season at the Division I level, McCollum is a proven winner. Before taking the job at Drake, the Iowa City native and Storm Lake-raised coach held an impressive 395–91 record at Division II Northwest Missouri State.

While Connor McCaffery might be frustrated with his dad’s dismissal, this marks a new chapter for Iowa. It’s unclear which direction the program will take, but one thing is certain — whoever steps in will have big shoes to fill after Fran’s 15-year run. Stay tuned for more updates!