Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Iowa

Fran McCaffery firing: Iowa AD Beth Goetz releases statement on decision to part ways

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•03/14/25•

NickSchultz_7

Iowa HC Fran McCaffery
© Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Iowa has made it official. Athletics director Beth Goetz announced Friday afternoon the school is parting ways with men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery.

McCaffery just completed his 15th season at Iowa after the Hawkeyes’ season came to an end against Illinois in the Big Ten tournament on Thursday after taking down Ohio State to advance in the bracket. Questions swirled about whether McCaffery would be back in 2025-26 or not, and he definitively said he expected to return.

Iowa Head Coach Hot Board

However, news broke Friday morning he was out. Goetz released a statement on the decision, thanking McCaffery for the impact he made on the program. She also confirmed Iowa plans to do a national search for its next head coach.

“Fran McCaffery has been an integral part of our Hawkeye family for the past 15 years. He is a tremendous coach and teacher, and we are grateful for the positive impact he has made on the institution and the community,” Goetz said. “We have a deep appreciation for his dedication to our student-athletes and his passion for the game that will have a lasting impact on our program.”

McCaffery amassed a 297-207 record since taking over at Iowa in 2010. However, the last two seasons were especially tough, including this year’s 17-16 record. The Hawkeyes didn’t win a road game until February.

The rough go created frustration around the fan base and led some to wonder if a change could be on the way. Ultimately, Iowa chose to move on, creating an intriguing opening in the Big Ten for next season.

McCaffery’s contract lasted through June 30, 2028. With this, Iowa will now owe him a roughly $4.2 million buyout for its decision to move on early.

Under McCaffery’s leadership, Iowa made seven NCAA Tournament appearances, but failed to make it past the Round of 32. The Hawkeyes likely would have made another appearance in the Field of 68 in in 2019-20, but the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

McCaffery’s best season at Iowa was in 2021-22 when the Hawkeyes posted a 26-10 overall record, a 12-8 conference mark and won the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2006. The team was led by Keegan Murray, a Consensus All-American and All-Big Ten selection who went on to be the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Grant Grubbs contributed.