Report: Iowa coach Fran McCaffery to miss Sunday's game against Minnesota

The Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers are set to face off on Sunday afternoon in a Big Ten matchup. When Iowa takes the court on Sunday, though, head coach Fran McCaffery will not be with the team.

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported on Friday morning that McCaffery will be out for Iowa, leaving an assistant coach to step up into his role.

“Iowa’s Fran McCaffery will miss Sunday’s game versus Minnesota due to health and safety protocols, per release,” Rothstein said. “Assistant Billy Taylor will serve as acting head coach.”

Iowa later tweeted an update on McCaffery, confirming that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Entering Sunday’s game, McCaffery has led Iowa to an overall record of 14-7, including a 4-6 mark against Big Ten opponents. The Hawkeyes’ game that was scheduled for Thursday night was postponed.

Iowa began the season 7-0 before dropping its next three games. The Hawkeyes then responded with a four-game winning streak and won six out of their next seven, reaching 13-4. But over the last four games, Iowa has won just once.

Minnesota enjoyed a strong start to the season, starting 10-1. Things have taken a sharp downhill turn since then, as Minnesota has lost seven of its last eight, hitting 11-8 on the year including a 2-8 mark in the Big Ten.

More on McCaffery, Iowa

McCaffery began his coaching career in 1985, and he spent three seasons as Lehigh’s head coach. In 1999, he went to UNC Greensboro, where he spent the next six seasons. Then, in 2005, McCaffery took over Siena’s program and turned them into a NCAA Tournament team in each of his final three years there. In 2010, Iowa came calling, and McCaffery has been with the Hawkeyes ever since.

Over his 12 years at Iowa, McCaffery has coached to a 230-159 overall record. The Hawkeyes have made five NCAA Tournament appearances under his guidance.

Billy Turner, who will serve as Iowa’s head coach on Sunday, has extensive experience in the college basketball ranks. He began as an assistant at Notre Dame in 1998 before working under McCaffery at UNC Greensboro from 1999-2002. Turner had his first stint at Iowa from 2013-2016 before returning in 2019. He has also served as head coach for Lehigh, Ball State, and Belmont Abbey.