Less than five years ago, Iowa basketball was a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament and had a star player coming off his second All-American selection. The Hawkeyes are struggling to win games and making the tournament seem nearly impossible. Despite his long history of success in the program, it may be time for Iowa to move on from Fran McCaffery.
Is it time for Iowa basketball to move on from Fran McCaffery?
Why Fran Should Stay
We should probably start off by explaining why Iowa basketball should keep its long-tenured coach. McCaffery has been at Iowa since 2010 and has seen a lot of success with the program. He has 7 NCAA Tournament appearances, multiple All-American selections, and a handful of lottery picks. Much of this was off of the Hawkeyes’ elite offense. They were one of the first teams to adapt to the “new” style of basketball: shooting threes or getting to the rim. They would shoot very few mid-range shots. They also play with an incredible tempo, which is unheard of in the Big Ten.
Another reason he should stay is because he has led Iowa basketball on its since the 90s. In the early 2000s, Iowa was not great. The program only had three NCAA tournament appearances in the decade. Once McCaffery came he brought them back to March Madness and had the program thriving. A few bad seasons can seem difficult, but it is hard to throw away someone who has brought the program so much success. Now with NIL and the transfer portal, it is much easier to build a roster, you just need to find the right pieces.
Why Fran Should Leave
Although Iowa basketball has seen success under McCaffery, it has been a downward trend ever since the departure of Luka Garza. Missing the tournament last year and likely missing it this year is simply unacceptable from a program of Iowa’s standard. Additionally, tournament success has been minimal under McCaffery. The Hawkeyes have never made it past the round of 32 without him as coach. It doesn’t matter how good you are in the regular season, big programs judge your results in March above all else. If he continues to fail on the biggest stage, McCaffery will likely be on the way out.
In addition to results, coaching style is not an issue. This does not mean his offensive sets or his defensive substitutions, but his on-court demeanor. McCaffery has an incredibly short fuse and has made a living screaming at refs and yelling at players. In an age of NIL, many will be quick to leave as they do not find this style of coaching to be attractive.
Will he Stay or Leave?
It is tough to say what Iowa will do in this situation. On the one hand, you don’t want to fire your legendary coach because he has had a few poor seasons. But on the other, you don’t want to hang onto a legacy as your program suffers. It is a tough decision. In all likelihood, McCaffery is probably safe this year. However, he will likely begin next season on the hot seat and if the Hawkeyes miss the tournament again we may see them on the market for a new coach next spring.
