It’s quite impressive when someone manages to find a partner who supports them through highs and lows. But what’s even more so, is finding a beloved who cares and shares similar interests. That’s exactly what Caitlin Clark’s love life with her now-boyfriend, Connor McCaffery, looks like.

Both Clark and McCaffery graduated from the same university, the University of Iowa. So, the 26-year-old has witnessed Clark’s dominance on the court. While the WNBA Rookie of the Year graduated in 2024, McCaffery completed his degree in finance and political science in May 2023. Just as talented as Clark is, so is her boyfriend. Right after graduation, he had a job opportunity in professional sports. For him, this offer wasn’t something he got by luck, but by talent, something that runs in his blood.

He got coaching in his genes

As the son of Fran McCaffery, head coach for the University of Iowa, Connor seemed to know what path to follow, considering the footsteps of his father that he has been walking. “We don’t know anything else,” Fran told The Gazette, having gotten into the profession right out of college — a path Connor seems to be on right now. It was Fran McCaffery who started the family legacy and came to be known as the youngest head coach in Division I history. Back in 1983, McCaffery Sr. began his career at Lehigh.

11 long years as an assistant coach at Notre Dame would come for McCaffery next. He’d then take on coaching at UNC Greensboro Spartans, where he achieved a 90-87 record over six seasons. He also led the Spartans to their first NCAA tournament in 2001. Despite having a solid coaching job, it wasn’t enough for him.

The “White Magic,” as he’s called, then spent five seasons at Siena, where he coached the Saints to 20-win seasons. It was there that his career peaked. His tenure at Siena is considered the greatest in the program’s history, as he was responsible for the team’s revival from a 6-24 record. For him, education was always a priority, which is why he had a 100% graduation rate for his players.

His son would excel in the field too — on the court and academically after he made it to Iowa Hawkeyes next.

Father-Son duo take the court at Iowa

Right after graduation, Connor McCaffery had a job opportunity in professional sports. It was an offer to be an assistant for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. With the door open, Connor joined the Pacers for one season.

“I’m really excited. I want to get away and try to learn from someone else, somewhere else. I’ve always been under my dad’s shadow and tutelage. Now, learning from someone like coach [Rick] Carlisle … and the assistants they have there, they’re all good basketball minds,” he had told ESPN.

But still in similarity with his father, he joined Butler University’s men’s basketball coaching staff in September 2024.

“Yayyy!!! So happy for you,” penned Caitlin Clark to applaud her love on his big achievement. Connor played for the University of Iowa after arriving in the 2017 recruiting class. The former Iowa guard proved his brilliance on the court over time, under the guidance of his father; a coach at Iowa for 14 seasons now.

In his last year with Iowa, Connor started 22 of the 32 games, which was the best of his career. He also posted a career-best 38.4 shooting percentage, 6.5 points, and 4.1 rebounds per game. Even his 3.9 assists-to-turnover ratio led the nation. Meanwhile, he made sure to perform well academically, too. Guess what? He earned the team’s Academic Excellence Award for five straight seasons.

What else would you expect from the son of a coach who had a 100% graduation rate for his players? Everything seemed a bit easier for him. From being a five-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and three-time NABC Honors Court recipient, he nailed it all.

All the while, Fran was etching his own presence in the program’s history. In 2021, he helped the Hawkeyes make the top 15 of the AP Poll for the first time since the 1989. And in 2024, he became Iowa’s all-time winningest coach with 280 career wins. As Big Ten’s third longest tenured head coach, McCaffery Sr. also has Iowa record of 136 Big Ten wins.

But as applauded as his coaching career is, it came with its set of challenges; thus making the news of her son taking a same path not so happy for Margaret McCaffery.

Connor’s mother didn’t want him to pursue a coaching career

Margaret McCaffery preferred her son to follow a different career path, perhaps one aligned with his two degrees so that he wouldn’t face the stress that comes with a coaching job. “Selfishly, that’s why I didn’t want him to go into coaching,” his mother once told ‘Sports Illustrated.’ For her, it was “excruciating to watch her husband,” so it was better for her not to “anticipate” Connor’s arrival on the same path.

Despite going against her wishes, Margaret still supports her son. “And we’ll be there to support him no matter what he does,” she added. That’s how Connor McCaffery continues his journey toward coaching excellence. He had both parents on his supportive end as he paved the coaching career. Still, he has got a long journey to go, but with Caitlin by his side, easing the journey even if a little.

“doing life w u has been easy,” he wrote on their 1-year anniversary. Love and guidance in Fran, Clark, and the McCafferys, Connor continues the legacy.