University of Iowa Athletics
Head Coach

Fran McCaffery

Fran McCaffery - Men's Basketball - University of Iowa Athletics

Bio

CAREER QUICK FACTS:

  • Years as collegiate coach: 41
  • Years as a head coach: 27
  • Winning seasons: 22
  • First-division finishes: 22
  • Postseason appearances: 16
  • 20-win seasons: 14
  • Conference Tournament Championships: 6
  • Consensus All-Americans: 7
  • National Players of the Year: 2
  • Academic All-Americans: 2

For 13 years, University of Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery has maintained enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the Hawkeye basketball program. After more than two decades as a head coach, he has coached his teams to 12 NCAA Tournaments, six conference tournament championships from four different leagues, including the Big Ten, with an overall record of 512-353 (.592). McCaffery recorded his 500th career win as a collegiate head coach this past season on Dec. 8, 2022, in a 19-point win over in-state rival Iowa State.

McCaffery, who is the Big Ten’s third longest tenured head coach behind Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Matt Painter of Purdue, is Iowa’s second all-time winningest coach. McCaffery concluded his 13th season as Iowa’s head coach in 2023 with 261 wins. He is 10 victories shy of Iowa’s all-time winningest coach, Tom Davis (271).

The positive steps McCaffery has taken the Iowa men’s basketball program are par-for-the-course for a coach who has demonstrated his ability to rebuild programs. McCaffery joined Hall of Fame coaches Rick Pitino, Bob Huggins, Eddie Sutton and Lefty Driesell as the only Division I coaches to lead teams to conference tournament titles in four or more different leagues. McCaffery is also one of just 14 Division I head coaches to take at least four different programs to the NCAA Tournament.

McCaffery, 63, was named the University of Iowa’s 22nd head men’s basketball coach on March 29, 2010. The Philadelphia native has accumulated 22 upper division conference finishes. McCaffery has posted 14 seasons of 20 wins or more as a head coach, including 12 in the last 17 years. McCaffery and the Hawkeyes have placed fifth or better in the Big Ten standings seven of the last nine seasons, including third place finishes in 2015, 2016, and 2021.

Since taking over the program in 2010, the Hawkeyes have vaulted back to national prominence. Iowa has appeared in a postseason tournament 10 of the last 11 completed seasons (7 NCAA, 3 NIT). McCaffery guided the Hawkeyes to seven of the last nine NCAA Tournaments (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) and reached the NIT championship game in 2013.

Over the last four seasons, Iowa combined to win 87 games, finished fifth place or better in the Big Ten standings, won a Big Ten Tournament title (2022), competed in the last three NCAA Tournaments, and won 20 games over AP Top 25 opponents.

McCaffery has recruited and coached a consensus All-American four of the last eight seasons, including four straight years.

Luka Garza, the most decorated men’s basketball player in Iowa history, was a two-time Big Ten and National Player of the Year, Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, and unanimous consensus first-team All-America. He rewrote Iowa’s record book earning consensus 2021 National Player of the Year laurels, including winning the prestigious Naismith Trophy, John R. Wooden Award, and Oscar Robertson Trophy. Garza broke Iowa’s career (2,306) and single-season (747) scoring records and is the only Big Ten player to amass more than 2,250 points, 900 rebounds, 150 blocks, and 100 3-pointers.

One year later in 2022, Keegan Murray earned consensus first-team All-America laurels, was the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year honoree and was a finalist for both the Naismith and Wooden National Player of the Year awards in 2022. In the process of posting the best season by an underclassman in program history, Murray surpassed Garza’s single season scoring record with 822 points.

In 2023, Kris Murray was voted a consensus third-team All-America, unanimous first-team all-conference by the media, a semifinalist for the Wooden and Naismith, and a finalist for the Malone award. Murray was the only Division I player to average 20+ points, 7+ rebounds, 1+ block and make 65+ 3-pointers in 2023.

In 2016, Uthoff earned second-team All-American honors. He also was named the Men’s Basketball Division I Academic All-American of the Year, becoming the first Iowa men’s basketball player to ever be named a consensus and Academic All-American of the Year.

After going 117 years without a player reaching 700 points in a single season, Garza and Murray exceeded that milestone three consecutive seasons (2020-22). The Hawkeyes had the Big Ten scoring champion three straight years, which is something that has not been accomplished by any team in the league in over 50 years. Keegan Murray’s 23.5 points per game average ranked fifth nationally and first among players from a major conference.

Iowa was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally during the 2016 and 2021 seasons. The Hawkeyes were ranked for 16 consecutive weeks in 2019, the final nine weeks of the 2020 season, went wire-to-wire in 2021 in the top 15 of the AP Poll for the first time since the 1989 campaign, and was ranked No 16 in the final poll on 2022.

This past season, the Hawkeyes won 19 games, tied for fifth place in the Big Ten standings, qualified for the NCAA Tournament and won three games over AP Top 25 opponents. The Hawkeyes won 11 regular season conference games, marking the eighth time in nine seasons reaching 10 wins in Big Ten play.

In 2022, the Hawkeyes won four games in four days to capture the Big Ten Tournament title, their third in program history, which ties as third most in the league. Iowa finished fourth in the conference standings and won 26 games; the second highest single season win total in program history.

In 2021, Iowa won 14 Big Ten regular season games, its highest total since 1987. The Hawkeyes earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, tying its highest ever seed in tournament history (No. 2 in 1987).

McCaffery’s up-tempo style of play is a favorite among his players. Iowa has led the Big Ten in scoring each of the last five seasons, including ranking fifth nationally in both 2021 and 2022. Iowa averaged more than 83 points in consecutive seasons (2021 & 2022) for the first time in 27 years. Additionally, Iowa was tops in Division I in assist-to-turnover ratio in 2021 (2.0) and 2022 (1.74).

In 2020, McCaffery orchestrated one of his best coaching jobs during his Iowa tenure. Working with a depleted team due to injuries and redshirts, he led the nationally ranked Hawkeyes to 20 regular season wins and a likely invitation to the NCAA Tournament, if not for the cancellation of the postseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

McCaffery is a proven recruiter and continues to create interest with recruits on a national level due to his tireless work ethic. He has recruited and coached an All-American six of the last eight seasons: Jarrod Uthoff (2016), Peter Jok (2017), Garza (2020 & 2021), Keegan Murray (2022) and Kris Murray (2023). He has mentored an All-Big Ten honoree(s) 11 of the last 12 years, including first-team selections eight of the last 10 seasons: Devyn Marble (2014), Aaron White (2015), Uthoff (2016), Jok (2017), Garza (2020 & 2021), Keegan Murray (2022) and Kris Murray (2023). McCaffery also developed Gabriel Olaseni (2015), Nicholas Baer (2017) and Payton Sandfort (2023) to Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year honors. Garza became the first Hawkeye in 52 years to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors, achieving the distinction twice (2020 & 2021) and first Hawkeye in 68 years to earn consensus first-team All-America recognition.

Joe Wieskamp was voted to the All-Big Ten second team in 2021 and third team in 2020, while CJ Fredrick (2020) and Keegan Murray (2021) became the seventh and eighth players, respectively, during McCaffery’s tenure to be voted to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. Garza and Wieskamp were the fifth highest scoring duo in Division I both in 2020 and 2021, averaging 37.9 points per game in 2020 and 38.9 in 2021. Garza and Wieskamp are the second-highest scoring duo in program history.

Five years ago, the Hawkeyes amassed 23 victories and won an NCAA Tournament game for the third time in five seasons. The Hawkeyes started 2018-19 strong with McCaffery guiding the team to an undefeated nonconference record, something that had not been accomplished in 32 years. Iowa recorded five wins over ranked opponents with only one senior, a total that matched the most by an Iowa team in 13 seasons. McCaffery coached four Hawkeyes to postseason recognition in 2018-19: Tyler Cook earned second-team All-Big Ten laurels, Bohannon was named to third-team all-conference, Garza was an honorable mention selection, while Wieskamp was named to the All-Freshman Team. Bohannon finished his Hawkeye career as the program leader in career assists (704), 3-pointers (455), free throw percentage (.887) and games played (179), and 3-pointers made in a game (10).

Iowa has averaged more than 21 wins over the last 11 seasons, with its 213 victories between 2013-22 being the most over a 10-year span since 1980-89 (218). McCaffery is the first head coach to lead Iowa to 18 or more victories in six straight seasons (2012-17), while winning 20 games or more eight of the last 11 years.

The past 13 years, McCaffery coached 19 Hawkeyes to professional contracts, including Keegan Murray, Joe Wieskamp and Garza. Murray was selected with the fourth overall selection of the 2022 NBA Draft, the highest a Hawkeye has ever been picked. Wieskamp and Garza were both selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.

McCaffery recruited and coached White to an illustrious Hawkeye career. White became the first Iowa player to score 1,800 points and collect 900 rebounds, while also leading the team in rebounding all four years. He ranks third in scoring (1,859) and fourth in rebounding (901). He made more free throws than any other Big Ten player in 50 years, ranking third all-time in Big Ten annals with 618.

McCaffery had another marvelous coaching job in 2017, working with one of the youngest teams in the country and nearly receiving a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Iowa tied for fifth in the Big Ten and was the first team out of the field. Jok led the team, becoming Iowa’s fifth Big Ten scoring champion in school history, averaging 19.9 points per game. For half the season, Jok started alongside four rookies — Iowa’s youngest starting lineup in school history. Undaunted, McCaffery and the Hawkeyes progressed as the season went on ultimately winning four games against ranked teams, including No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 24 Maryland on the road.

In addition to leading the Big Ten in scoring, Jok established new school free throw records in single-game makes (22) and single-season accuracy (.911). Freshman Cordell Pemsl broke the school’s single-season field goal percentage mark (.617), while Bohannon rewrote the Iowa freshman record books in assists (175), 3-pointers (89), and double-doubles in points and assists (3).

In 2018, a trio of underclassmen led the squad in sophomores Cook and Bohannon, and freshman Garza. Cook joined Greg Stokes as the only Hawkeyes to total more than 500 points and 200 rebounds their sophomore season, while newcomer Garza became just the fourth Hawkeye rookie in program history to score 400 points. Bohannon became the sixth Hawkeye in program history to total more than 400 points and 150 assists in a season and is the only Division I player to total more than 150 assists and 80 3-pointers as a freshman and sophomore over the last 25 years.

In 2016, McCaffery coached an Iowa team to heights that had not been seen in Iowa City in decades. The Hawkeyes were nationally ranked the final 12 weeks of the season, including ascending as high as No. 3 — its highest ranking since 1987. Iowa won five games over AP Top-25 teams. The Hawkeyes recorded back-to-back 12-win seasons in Big Ten play for just the third time in school history (1981-82 and 1987-88) and won an NCAA Tournament game in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1996-97. Additionally, Iowa swept Michigan, Purdue, and Michigan State (6-0) for the first time since 1954. Uthoff and Jok combined to average 35 points per game, Iowa’s third-highest scoring duo the last 40 seasons.

Individually, Uthoff became the fifth consensus All-American in program history. Jok’s game erupted garnering second team all-conference honors as a junior.

In 2015, Iowa’s seven true road victories were the most by a Hawkeye team since 1987. And in the NCAA Tournament, McCaffery and the Hawkeyes posted the largest margin of victory ever in a 7/10 match-up, beating 10th-seeded Davidson, 83-52, in the second round. The 31-point win was the largest by any Hawkeye team in a postseason game.

McCaffery and the Hawkeyes have made Carver-Hawkeye Arena one of the most feared arenas to play in nationally. Fans have embraced McCaffery and his team’s style of play, with attendance increasing by more than 50 percent since 2010. The Hawkeyes won a school-record 18 home contests in 2013. Iowa won 13 consecutive home contests in 2019-20, its second-longest win streak inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in a single season. The Hawkeyes have won 14 or more home games each of the last five seasons (2019-23).

Under McCaffery’s direction, Iowa won 20 or more games four straight seasons (2013-16), the program’s longest streak in 15 years. The Hawkeyes accumulated 25 victories in 2013, which equal the second-most win total in school history (20 in 2014, 23 in 2019, 22 in 2015, and 22 in 2016).

McCaffery has served as head coach at four institutions: Iowa, Siena, UNC-Greensboro and Lehigh. The four teams had a combined record of 35-84 (.204) the season prior to his arrival. By year three, they had a total record of 89-45 (.664).

McCaffery came to Iowa after five successful seasons at Siena.

McCaffery’s five years at Siena were the best in its 70-year history, which earned the head coach entry into the Siena Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. He led the Saints on an incredible run that ended with three straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. In so doing, Siena became the only program in the country to win its regular season and postseason title 2008-10.

McCaffery’s Saints owned a 112-51 record in his five years with the program. After orchestrating the fifth greatest turnaround in Division I play his first year, McCaffery led Siena to a 20-win season and a MAAC Championship game appearance in his second. In 2007-08, Siena took its biggest step forward under his direction, earning the MAAC regular-season and tournament championship, as well as an NCAA Tournament first-round win over Vanderbilt. In 2008-09, the Siena program enjoyed unprecedented success. Siena won the regular-season title by equaling a program record with 27 wins before capturing the tournament crown. The Saints went on to defeat Ohio State in double overtime in one of the tournament’s most exciting games.

In 2010, McCaffery led Siena to its fourth straight 20-win season, something never before achieved in program history. Siena ran away with the league title, clinching the No. 1 seed in the tournament and ultimately knocking off Fairfield in the MAAC title game.

The 2009 MAAC Coach of the Year is the third-winningest coach, by percentage, in league history (68-22, .756). He is the only coach to guide a MAAC program to two NCAA Tournament wins.

The 2008 season will also go down as one of the most memorable in Siena basketball history. McCaffery became just the 31st coach to take three different programs to the “Big Dance”, and he was the first to do so with three programs from one-bid leagues (conference’s that sent just one team the year his program advanced). Siena pounded Rider in the MAAC title game on its home floor to earn the MAAC’s automatic bid. Less than two weeks later, McCaffery put together the perfect game plan and Siena led from start-to-finish in a triumph over Vanderbilt. Many considered the victory the greatest in school history, challenged at the time only by the program’s 1989 upset of Stanford in the NCAA first round.

Siena won 20 games in McCaffery’s second season (2007) and tied for third place in the MAAC with a 12-6 finish. McCaffery’s Saints were the highest scoring team in the league, and they peaked at the right time, winning seven of their last eight regular-season games and advancing to play for the league championship.

McCaffery’s first recruit – senior Kenny Hasbrouck – graduated as the most important player in program history. He was named MAAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman, MAAC second team and All-Tournament team as a sophomore, collegeinsider.com Mid Major Player of the Year, MAAC first team and MAAC Tournament MVP as a junior and MAAC Player of the Year, MAAC Tournament MVP, NABC All-District and MAAC first team as a senior.

His second class is widely regarded as the best in program history. Edwin Ubiles, Alex Franklin, and Ronald Moore finished their four-year careers with a 97-38 (.719) overall record, three MAAC Championships in four title game appearances, three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two NCAA Tournament first round victories. Ubiles was a two-time MAAC first team, NABC All District first team and MAAC Tournament team selection and the 2007 MAAC co-Rookie of the Year. Franklin, a two-time NABC All District selection, earned 2008 and 2009 MAAC second team and MAAC Tournament team honors. He won the 2010 MAAC Player of the Year award (Siena’s second straight) and the 2010 MAAC Tournament MVP. Moore, the pulse of the team, earned 2009 MAAC second team and 2010 MAAC first team honors as well as a spot on the 2010 MAAC Tournament team. He became the MAAC’s all-time assists leader in the 2010 MAAC Championship game.

In total, four Saints were named to either the first or second All-MAAC team in 2009, newcomer Kyle Downey was an All-Rookie selection and Clarence Jackson was named MAAC Sixth Man of the Year.

McCaffery took over at Siena from UNC-Greensboro, where he posted a 90-87 record in six seasons. In his first year at the helm, Greensboro placed third in the North Division. He guided the Spartans to the 18th-best improved record among NCAA Division I teams.

In McCaffery’s second season, he guided the Spartans to unprecedented heights with a 19-12 record and the 2001 SoCon Tournament Championship. The Spartans defeated Chattanooga in the finals and received the SoCon’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The following year (2001-02) McCaffery led the Spartans to their first 20-win season since joining the conference. It marked the first time the program claimed a share of the SoCon North Division title as well. After falling to eventual tournament champion Davidson in the conference tournament semifinals, the Spartans were awarded a berth into the 2002 NIT.

In his final year in Greensboro, McCaffery brought the Spartans to the brink of the NCAA Tournament before a SoCon Championship game loss to Chattanooga. He led UNCG to a victory over Davidson in the semifinals, defeating a team that had been 16-0 in conference play. A big part of that success was SoCon Freshman of the Year Kyle Hines.

McCaffery spent the 11 years prior to his arrival at Greensboro at Notre Dame as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, working on the staffs of Richard “Digger” Phelps and John MacLeod.

Among the players he recruited to play for Notre Dame were Pat Garrity, Academic All-American of the Year in 1998, and Troy Murphy, the Big East Player of the Year in 2000 and an eventual first-round NBA draft pick. Garrity was also a first-round NBA draft pick and the Big East Player of the Year in 1997. In addition to Murphy and Garrity, McCaffery was involved in recruiting NBA First Round picks LaPhonso Ellis (1992 Draft, #5 Denver), Monty Williams (1994 Draft, #24 New York) and Ryan Humphrey (2002 Draft, #19-Utah Jazz).

He helped the Irish to NCAA Tournament appearances in 1989 and 1990. Notre Dame reached the NIT finals in 1992 and advanced to the quarterfinals in 1997.

At 26, McCaffery was the nation’s youngest Division I head coach when he was hired on Sept. 11, 1985, at Lehigh. McCaffery capped his three-year tenure with the Engineers with a 21-win season and an NCAA berth in 1988.

In three seasons as head coach at Lehigh, he compiled a 49-39 overall record and guided the team to the NCAA Tournament in 1988. At the time he was the youngest head coach to reach the NCAA Tournament. His Lehigh teams had two winning seasons in three years and the 1987-88 squad’s 21-10 record remains the best in program history. Lehigh had just four winning seasons in the 55 years prior to his arrival.

McCaffery was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lehigh from 1983-85 and helped the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1985. As recruiting coordinator, he helped sign Darren Queenan, who remains Lehigh’s all-time leading scorer. Queenan was second in the nation in scoring in 1988.

McCaffery was assistant varsity coach and head sub-varsity coach at his alma mater, Pennsylvania, during the 1982-83 season. At Penn, he worked for Craig Littlepage, who is now the director of athletics at the University of Virginia.

McCaffery lettered three years as point guard on the men’s basketball team at Pennsylvania as one of the first transfers to play for the Quakers. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The Wharton School of Finance and Commerce in 1982. In 1985 he received his master’s degree in education from Lehigh.

In three seasons as a player, he helped lead Penn to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and Ivy League titles and one berth in the NIT. As a senior in 1981-82 he led the Ivy League in steals and assists and was voted the team’s Most Inspirational Player.

Recruited as the successor at point guard to Skip Brown at Wake Forest, McCaffery played one season at Wake Forest, 1977-78, helping the Demon Deacons to a 19-10 record. Nicknamed “White Magic,” he started 11 games as coach Carl Tacy’s team finished runner-up in the ACC Tournament to eventual NCAA runner-up Duke. Wake defeated North Carolina twice in three meetings and won five of the eight games it played at the Greensboro Coliseum.

The McCaffery’s have been a champion for Coaches vs. Cancer and the American Cancer Society (ACS). The McCaffery’s have been actively involved with the Coaches vs. Cancer program and have raised significant funds to support ACS efforts, including more than $5.0 million since becoming Iowa’s head coach in 2010. His efforts were honored during the 2015 Final Four weekend, as McCaffery was honored with the Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award. The distinction is awarded annually to a college coach who has been engaged vigorously in the Coaches vs. Cancer program’s fundraising, education and promotional initiatives and has demonstrated leadership in the fight to save more lives from cancer. The ACS awarded the McCaffery’s with the Fighting Spirit Award in 2015.

In addition to their work with the American Cancer Society and Coaches vs. Cancer, the McCaffery’s help spearhead the launch of a new Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program in Iowa City.

McCaffery, a Philadelphia native who attended LaSalle High School, and his wife Margaret have four children: sons, Connor, Patrick and Jonathan and a daughter, Marit. Patrick is a senior on the Iowa basketball team, while Connor recently completed his sixth season on the Hawkeye basketball team.

Fran McCaffery
Born May 23, 1959
Hometown Philadelphia, Pa.
High School LaSalle, 1977
College B.S. in Economics, The Wharton School (Penn), 1982
Master of Education, Lehigh, 1985
Family Wife, Margaret
Sons, Connor, Patrick and Jonathan Francis
Daughter, Marit Katherine
Brother, Jack (sportswriter in Philadelphia area)
Coaching Honors
MAAC Coach of the Year, 2009
NABC District I Coach of the Year, 2009-10
Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award, 2015
Coaching History (33 years)
1982-83 Assistant Coach, Penn
1983-85 Assistant Coach, Lehigh
1985-88 Head Coach, Lehigh (youngest head coach in America at age 26)
1988-99 Assistant Coach, Notre Dame
1999-05 Head Coach, UNC-Greensboro
2005-10 Head Coach, Siena
2010-present Head Coach, University of Iowa
Coaching Chart
Overall 512-353 (.592) – (27 seasons)
At Iowa 261-176 (.597) – (13 seasons)
At Siena 112-51 (.688) – (five seasons)
At UNCG 90-87 (.508) – (six seasons)
At Lehigh 49-40 (.551) – (three seasons)
NCAA Tournament 6-12 – (12 appearances*^)
NIT 6-4 – (four appearances)
Preseason NIT 1-1 – (one appearance)
*McCaffery is the first coach to bring three different programs from one-bid leagues to the NCAA Tournament (conferences that sent just one team the year his program advanced).
^With 20 wins and tying for fifth place in the Big Ten, Iowa likely would have competed in the NCAA Tournament; NCAA canceled the season on March 12 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
McCaffery in Postseason Play
1988 NCAA Tournament – – Lehigh
1989 NCAA Tournament – – Notre Dame
1990 NCAA Tournament – – Notre Dame
1992 NIT – – Notre Dame
1997 NIT – – Notre Dame
2001 NCAA Tournament – – UNC-Greensboro
2002 NIT – – UNC-Greensboro
2008 NCAA Tournament – – Siena
2009 NCAA Tournament – – Siena
2010 NCAA Tournament – – Siena
2012 NIT – – Iowa
2013 NIT – – Iowa
2014 NCAA Tournament – – Iowa
2015 NCAA Tournament – – Iowa
2016 NCAA Tournament – – Iowa
2017 NIT – – Iowa
2019 NCAA Tournament – – Iowa
2020 NCAA Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 global pandemic
2021 NCAA Tournament – – Iowa
2022 NCAA Tournament – – Iowa
2023 NCAA Tournament – – Iowa
Playing Experience
Wake Forest, 1977-78
Penn, 1979-82
Notable players recruited and/or coached at Iowa
Kris Murray Sporting News, Associated Press, USBWA Third Team All-America; All-Big Ten First Team honoree (unanimous by media); Associated Press All-Big Ten First Team selection; John R. Wooden Award Semifinalist; Naismith Player of the Year Trophy Semifinalist; Lute Olson National Player of the Year Finalist; Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Finalist; NABC First Team All-District and USBWA All-District; Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament Team; ESPN National Player of the Week and Big Ten Player of the Week (Dec. 5); only Division I player to average 20 points, 7+ rebounds, 1+ block and make 65+ three-pointers in 2023; ranked 21st nationally in points per game (20.2); first Hawkeye in 45 years to total 30+ points and 20+ rebounds in a game (Bruce King in 1977); netted double figures in 27 games, including reaching 20+ a team-best 15 times; totaled six double-doubles.
Keegan Murray Posted numbers and accomplishments no other Hawkeye underclassman has achieved in 2022 as a sophomore; consensus first-team All-American; Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year; finalist for the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Lute Olson Award and Lefty Driesell Award; USBWA and NABC All-District; All-Big Ten First Team (unanimous); Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player and All-Tournament Team; Academic All-Big Ten; six-time Big Ten Player of the Week (one of only three Big Ten players to earn at least six Big Ten Player of the Week honors since the weekly award was introduced prior to the 1981-82 season); broke the school single-season scoring (822), and field goals made (307) and attempted (554); accumulated 1,046 points in 66 games as a Hawkeye becoming just the fifth Hawkeye to reach over 1,000 career points in their first two seasons; amassed 822 points, 303 rebounds, 68 blocks, 66 3-point field goals, 52 assists and 45 steal; one of only two Big Ten players this century and eighth overall with more than 800 points in a single season; only the second player in Division I history to amass more than 800 points, 60 blocks, and 60 3-pointers in a single season (Texas’ Kevin Durant in 2007); first Division I player with more than 800 points and 300 rebounds with a field goal percentage of 55 percent or better in a single season since North Carolina’s Antawn Jamison in 1998; totaled a Big Ten Tournament record 103 points and 38 field goals made in four games in leading the Hawkeyes to their third tournament championship and first since 2006; tied a Big Ten Tournament single game record with eight made 3-pointers made (10 attempts), in 32-point outburst in win over Indiana; tallied 20+ points 26 times and 25+ points 16 times in 2022, both of which ranked first nationally; increased his scoring average by +16.3 points from the previous season, which is the largest points per game increase by a Big Ten player in 49 years; ranked first in the country in Player Efficiency Rating (37.8), fourth in points per game (23.5), 34th in field goal percentage (.554), 46th in blocks per contest (1.94) and 51st in double-doubles (10); his 23.5 points per game average was tops among players from a major conference and marked the third consecutive season a Hawkeye led the Big Ten in scoring (Garza in 2020 and 2021); only player nationally to average 23+ points and 8+ rebounds; reached 30 points a league-best five times; voted to the 2021 All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
Luka Garza His No. 55 will be retired from the University of Iowa Men’s Basketball Program; Iowa’s only two-time Big Ten and National Player of the Year, including the 2021 Consensus National Player of the Year, winner of the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Oscar Robertson Trophy, Lute Olson Award, Senior CLASS Award, and Associated Press, NABC and Sporting News National Player of the Year; two-time Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, USBWA District VI Player of the Year, and unanimous consensus first-team All-America; first Hawkeye in 52 years to earn Big Ten Player of the Year honors; broke Iowa’s single-season (747) and all-time scoring (2,306) records; only Big Ten player to ever amass 2,250+ points, 900+ rebounds, 150+ blocks, and 100+ 3-pointers; one of three Big Ten players over the last 50 years to average 23+ points and 8+ rebounds in consecutive seasons; averaged 26.2 points per game (2020), becoming the first player to average at least 26 points in Big Ten play since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson in 1994 (31.1 ppg); only player in program history with two 700-point seasons and four 400-point seasons; scored 20 points or more in a school-record 19 straight games; one of two players in program history to score 40+ points in two games; poured in a career-high 44 points at Michigan — the most points scored in a game by an Iowa big man, third most in program history, most by an opposing player in Crisler Center history; netted 41 points versus Southern University, the most points by a Hawkeye in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history; his 34 points versus Iowa State are the most points scored by a Hawkeye against the Cyclones.
Peter Jok Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American and Senior CLASS Award All-American; became Iowa’s fifth player in school history to lead Big Ten in scoring, averaging 19.9 points per game; established new school free throw records in single-game makes (22), career percentage (.864), and single-season accuracy (.911); first Hawkeye in school history to make 80+ 3-pointers in two seasons; scored 30+ points five times, which tied for first among players from Power 5 conferences in 2016-17 and ties for third best in a single-season at Iowa since 1970; became the first Hawkeye to win the College 3-Point Championships; became the first Big Ten player to win at least one game in all 14 Big Ten arenas.
Jarrod Uthoff Garnered the following honors as a senior in 2016: became Iowa’s fifth consensus All-American and first since 1952; named the Division I Men’s Basketball Academic All-American of the Year; unanimous first-team All-Big Ten honoree — Iowa’s first since 1997; one of only three Hawkeyes to amass 1,000 points and 150 blocked shots in a career; ranks 19th in Iowa career scoring, a feat accomplished in only three seasons; NABC and USBWA All-District selection; ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring (18.9) and first in blocked shots (2.6); first Hawkeye in 10 seasons to lead the league in rejections.
Devyn Marble Garnered the following honors as a senior in 2014: second Team All-America by College Sports Madness, first-team All-Big Ten, NABC First Team All-District Team, USBWA All-District VI Team and named to the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis All-Tournament Team. Marble was a third team all-league selection as a junior and named to the 2013 NIT All-Tournament team. He ranks fifth in Iowa career scoring (1,694, sixth in assists (397) and seventh in steals (176). The two-time captain is one of only two Big Ten players since 1985-86 to amass 1,675+ points, 375+ assists, 450+ rebounds and 175+ steals.
Aaron White Garnered the following honors as a senior in 2015: first-team All-Big Ten, NABC First Team All-District Team, USBWA All-District VI Team and named to the 2014 2K Classic All-Tournament Team. Finished his illustrious career ranked second in Iowa scoring (1,859) and third in rebounding (901). Became the first Hawkeye to ever amass 1,800 points and 900 rebounds and lead the team in rebounding all four seasons. He made more free throws than any other Big Ten player the last 50 years, raking third in Big Ten annals with 618.
Joe Wieskamp Joe Wieskamp became the first junior in program history to amass more than 1,250 points, 550 rebounds, 175 3-pointers, 100 assists, and 75 steals. A three-year starter, Wieskamp was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree and was recognized on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team. He left school ranking ninth in career 3-pointers made and 24th in scoring. Wieskamp was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Matt Gatens Second Team All-Big Ten in 2012; Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2010; 2009 Big Ten All-Freshman Team Selection; ranks sixth in Iowa scoring (1,635); ranks second in 3-pointers made (239). He us currently playing professionally in Turkey.
Notable players recruited and/or coached as an assistant at Notre Dame
Pat Garrity Big East Player of the Year 1997; second team All-America in 1998; Academic All-American of the Year in 1998 and a two-time Academic All-American; selected #19 in the 1998 NBA Draft by Milwaukee
Troy Murphy Big East Player of the Year in 2000 and co-Big East Player of the Year in 2001; Big East Rookie of the Year in 1999; two-time consensus first team All-American and All-Big East honoree; selected #14 in the 2001 NBA Draft by Golden State
LaPhonso Ellis Only Notre Dame player to lead the team in blocks each of his four seasons; Selected #5 in the 1992 NBA Draft by Denver
Monty Williams Selected #24 in the 2002 NBA Draft by Utah
Notable player recruited and coached at Lehigh
Darren Queenan Co-East Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1987; Lehigh’s all-time leading scorer and ranked second in the country in scoring in 1988; one of the most prolific scorers in NCAA history, he is one of only eight players to have amassed 2,700 points and 1,000 rebounds; four-time first team all-conference honoree; Played 16 years professionally overseas.
Mike Polaha 1988 Sporting News All-American; Two-time All-East Coast Conference honoree (1987-88); only Lehigh player to score 1,400 points and have more than 400 rebounds and assists.
Mike Androlewicz 1986 first team All-East Coast Conference selection.
Notable player recruited and coached at UNC-Greensboro
Kyle Hines 2005 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year; 2007 Southern Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first player from UNC Greensboro to earn the honor; All-American in 2007; three-time USBWA All-District selection; one of only four players to garner All-Southern Conference accolades; one of only six players in NCAA history to ever record 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocks in a career.
Demetrius Cherry 1999 Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year; two-time first team all-league accolades
Courtney Eldridge 2002 All-Southern Conference honoree.
David Schuck 2002 All-Southern Conference honoree.
Ronnie Burrell 2005 All-Southern Conference honoree.
Jay Joseph 2001 Southern Conference Rookie of the Year.
Notable Players Recruited and/or Coached at Siena
Kenny Hasbrouck 2006 MAAC Rookie of the Year; 2008 collegeinsider.com Mid Major Player of the Year; 2009 MAAC Player of the Year and NABC All-District. Hasbrouck, who has his number retired, was McCaffery’s first recruit at Siena. He became Siena’s first player to ever make an NBA roster when he signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent in 2010. Currently, he is playing overseas in Spain.
Edwin Ubiles 2007 MAAC co-Freshman of the Year; two-time NABC District 1 selection; 2010 first team all-league honoree; ranks third in all-time career scoring at Siena
Ronald Moore 2010 first team all-MAAC selection; led the country in assists, was a Bob Cousey Award finalist and an NABC All-District honoree in 2010, and is the MAAC’s all-time assists leader.
What Others are Saying About Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery
“Coach McCaffery adds a different flavor and is good for the Big Ten Conference. This an attractive program for highly skilled players. His system advocates putting the biscuit in the basket, putting points on the board. That’s fun. Fran has things going in Iowa City. He get talented players, not just because of his system but because he can coach.”
Gus Johnson – – College Basketball Analyst, FOX“Fran McCaffery has won at Lehigh, UNC-Greensboro, Siena and Iowa. His teams are enjoyable to watch with their style of play; he lets his kids play free. He has the Hawkeyes in the NCAA Tournament on a yearly basis.”
Doug Gottlieb – – College Basketball Analyst, CBS“Fran McCaffery is a fine basketball coach, and an even finer person. He can teach the game, identify and attract talent, and he is a man of great substance and integrity.”
Jay Bilas – – College Basketball Analyst, ESPN“Fran McCaffery is a great hire for Iowa. He was a great assistant coach and has done a great job in making Siena the Gonzaga of the east. He has brought back the traditions of Iowa basketball.”
Digger Phelps – – College Basketball Analyst and former Head Coach, Notre Dame“Iowa made an outstanding choice. Fran McCaffery-coached teams are well coached and very well organized.”
Ronnie Lester – – UI All-American“Fran is respected by his coaching peers, Coach McCaffery is a proven winner who rebuilt the Siena program in quick fashion by being a relentless recruiter who instilled an up tempo style that fans loved and players embraced. During the search process he expressed his vision for the future of the Hawkeye program, while understanding the proud tradition of University of Iowa Basketball.”
Bobby Hansen – – UI Final Four Member, 1980; World Champion, Chicago Bulls; Hawkeye Radio Network Analyst“Fran is a tireless worker, who is going to go out and grind, and that’s someone Iowa needed. He won’t be afraid to say, ‘Hey, this guy is a top-10 recruit and we’re going after him because we’re Iowa’. That’s the way it should be. I want the program to be at the level where I chose Iowa over Notre Dame, Kentucky, Michigan and Michigan State. Fran is going to go out and do the work that he’s always done. He’ll identify kids he feels can take us to the next level.”
Kenyon Murray – – Iowa Hawkeye Lettermen (1993-96)“The number one thing about Fran, is that he has a great feel for the game, and, he understands players. Fran has a great knack for setting an offense and he is a great defensive coach. He has great relationships with his players. This is a great fit for Iowa and a great fit for Fran.”
John MacLeod – – Former Head Coach, Notre Dame and former Head Coach, Golden State“I have been impressed with Coach McCaffery’s consistent success. His teams are well prepared and his development of players, particularly on the perimeter, fit in well in Iowa City.”
Shon Morris – – College Basketball Analyst, BTN“Fran McCaffery is a good choice for Iowa and Iowa is a good choice for Fran.”
John Feinstein – – Sportswriter and author