In an era where the players can use the transfer portal and the coaches can simply buy out their contracts and where the changing NIL landscape is too much for the coaches to handle, some of them are sticking around. Interestingly, one of those is the Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo who has guided the Spartans for three decades now and tops the longevity list for Big 10. Following him close at the third spot is his Thursday’s opponent in Fran McCaffery, Iowa’s head coach. And he has announced his decision that contradicts with what his son and Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend has done by moving on to the Butler Bulldogs after a short one-year stint with the Indiana Pacers as their team assistant. But that doesn’t mean that everything is alright with the Hawkeyes.

It has been 3 years since the Iowa fans celebrated the team’s Big 10 championship, 2 years since they saw themselves cheering for the Hawkeyes in the Big Dance, and three seasons since the black and gold cleared the second round in March Madness. In fact, the fans are so tired that the postseason they are hoping to make is not March Madness but the Big 10 championship. Time and again, they have mounted calls against the 15-year Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery that he has “checked out” or “he doesn’t care anymore” as the team faced weakest records in the last 2 seasons of the last 5 years under him. Today, they stand at a juncture where if they don’t win their next two games, they may not even be a part of the conference championship that they held just two years ago.

Clearly, tensions are high. Still, amidst all the chaos, Fran McCaffery, who became the Hawkeyes’ winningest coach last year, does not want to move on. 

On Tuesday, David Eickholt, Iowa Hawkeye Insider, reported that the senior McCaffery had no intentions of moving on from his post. “Fran McCaffery when asked about his future: ‘I’m fully committed to the program and the players. I have no intention of moving on,” he tweeted. Fran joined Iowa after Todd Lickliter back in 2010. His latest contract that he signed on March 12, 2021, after the team got No. 2 in the NCAA tournament and will extend till June 30, 2028. His buyout price if he had chosen to leave the program would have been around $4.2 million, according to the Hawk Central.

During the interview, Fran cleared the air out that has been surrounding his name after the Hawkeyes were not able to perform at their best. Talking about his preparation for the coming days, he added, “I just came to work today, trying to figure out how we can beat Michigan State. Had some other conversations, professional conversations of course, on a number of different topics. And I got ready for practice today… I don’t really pay any attention to it. So, I don’t really address it. We’re just business as usual.”

Going into Thursday’s matchup, McCaffery will be going against one of the only few coaches that have stuck with their programs for long. In fact, Fran stands third in that Big 10 list after he signed with the Hawkeyes in 2010. At the same time, Izzo is in the lead, having bossed the Spartans for three decades now. Interestingly, their meeting on Thursday would be their 24th meeting, a very rare thing to see today. Hence, it was only natural that Izzo supported Fran’s decision to stick around.

Before their clash, Izzo reflected on Fran as he shared with Chris Solari of Detroit Free Press, “I would be sad if he decided enough is enough like a lot of coaches are doing, because he’s one of the good guys. Fran ain’t going out with a season that isn’t superb, in my humble opinion. Nor do I think he should.”

Surely, Fran isn’t looking for the next step—he’s doubling down on what he’s built in Iowa City despite the team’s chances for the post season hanging by a thread. In fact, with contacts of 4-star recruits already in his pocket, he is already planning for the next season.

The Hawkeyes currently struggle at 15-14, on the brink of missing out on the Big Ten Tournament. Entering the game against Michigan State, they have lost 10 of their last 13 games. Losing two more could mean out of conference contention and very likely a second consecutive NCAA Tournament miss. It is easy to give up at a point as this. But McCaffery is staying put. And his players are glad about the decision.

Senior forward Payton Sanford shared his thoughts on his coach, “He gets a really bad rap because of his antics on TV, but all that is is just caring for us and wanting the best for his players. That’s what I’ve noticed throughout the last four years is just how much he really does care about us and wants to protect us. He does everything that he can to be almost like a father figure to us and just take care of us. I know this year probably hasn’t been easy on him, but it’s never really shown in the way that he approaches things. I’ll always appreciate him for that.

“It seems like it’s a good thing (not caring about the noise). There’s always going to be the criticism. He’s a good coach, and I love him to death. He does a good job of just kind of blocking all that stuff out, which can be hard to do. … Just know that I’m sure we care a lot more about this than pretty much everybody else.”

Coaches’ duty aside, there have been times that people have captured Fran juggling between dad-duties and being a second father to his players. Remember when he was caught correcting the bowtie of one of his players? Sure, the intensity comes out on the floor because Fran, like any coach, wants his team to win. But what keeps him connected to the roots of Iowa is his loyalty to the program.

After he talked about himself, Fran also reflected what he thinks of Izzo and his players. “I think it’s culture that you have within the program. Guys want to be here. Guys want to come and be a part of that. We often talk about the business side of everything, but the truth of the matter is, I want my players to enjoy the ride and I want my staff and myself to enjoy every day, coming to work, trying to get better, preparing for the next game, accepting the challenge.

“I think we both look at it that way. The players that wear the black and gold take great pride. And I think the players that have played for him feel the same way.”

His No. 14 Michigan State Spartans entered this season with doubts, particularly about their shot-making, yet they’ve remained one of the most consistent teams in college basketball. Izzo has led them to what looks like their 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance—the longest active streak in the sport. If there’s anyone who understands the grind of coaching longevity, it’s him.

For now, Fran McCaffery isn’t going anywhere. His son might be carving his own path, but he’s still locked in. 

Connor McCaffery’s path has been a busy one; Caitlin Clark right by his side

The junior McCaffery played for six years under his father in Iowa. He always knew coaching was the way to go ahead for him, but injuries would only speed up the process. So, when the opportunity presented itself during a conversation with Iowa businessman Kevin Bannister, who had a connection to Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan, he jumped right on it. Months after stepping away from Iowa, he joined the franchise as a team assistant, diving into scouting and film analysis. 

It was a foot in the door, a grind-it-out role he embraced. “It’s a way in. It’s an entry-level job,” Connor said at the time, acknowledging the challenge ahead. But after a year, he left for a college coaching job at Butler, where he’s reunited with his brother Patrick. It’s a big leap and one that made sense for him.

“Super excited for him [being an assistant at Butler],” Clark, who would eventually go on to be a constant presence at his games, always supported him through thick and thin. “Obviously, he’s been around basketball his whole life and invested a lot into it.” 

McCaffery became the youngest member on Thad Matta’s coaching staff when he joined in September last year. It was yet another unexpected move for Connor. But he knew it was only opening up new pathways to growth. At 26-years-old, the young coach is only just beginning but had a subpar opening to his career as an assistant head coach with a 13-16 record and an eighth standing in the Big East with the Butler Bulldogs. Once he finds his footing, we can hope that that Fran McCaffery mindset won’t all be lost.