If McCaffery era of Iowa basketball is ending, let's do it with class
Love him or hate him, Fran gives it his all
The first and only time I spoke one-on-one with Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery was in the summer of 2011, shortly after his first season at the helm of the Hawkeyes wrapped up.
The season was a slog, finishing 11-20 overall, 4-10 in the then 11-team Big 10 conference, good for 10th out of 11. Still, there were signs of optimism. Iowa beat Michigan State by 20 in early February and closed out its regular season with a stunning upset of #6 Purdue at Carver Hawkeye Arena.
More importantly, the dark cloud of apathy and defeat lingering from the ill-fated Todd Lickliter era was lifting.
I was in Burge Hall with my daughter, dropping her off for a summer enrichment program, when I spotted McCaffery chatting with a recruit (I believe it was Anthony Clemmons) in the residence hall lobby.
“Welcome to Iowa and good luck,” I told him.
Instead of just nodding, smiling and sending me on my way he instead asked what I was doing there, wished my daughter luck and listened with interest as I told him our family were now third-generation Hawkeyes and hoping for great things from the basketball program. He promised to do his best.
For the next 15 years, he did just that.
It is likely the Hawkeye basketball program will be under new leadership following this season, or if not, very soon thereafter. Big time, Big 10 basketball is a results-oriented business and Iowa has not been winning often enough, or at the right times, of late. You can compete and do it with class and dignity and an entertaining style of basketball, but if you don’t make waves in March at the big dance, eventually you are sent packing.
This, then, will likely be the fate of the coach who rescued Hawkeye basketball from its near-death experience.
I would argue that the apathy and indifference that has set in with the fan base – the one that can barely get 5,000 butts in Carver seats for conference games lately – is too great for a coach and program that has won more than its lost and continues to compete hard. But I also understand the frustration of feeling like things are stale and need a shakeup. That’s probably true, too.
My wish is that despite the rocky present, the McCaffery era is mostly remembered with fondness. After all, McCaffery not only got Iowa winning again, he also made a conscious effort to reach out to and support past Hawkeye basketball players, something the Licklilter and Steve Alford regimes failed to do.
There has been some chatter on social media and elsewhere that with his oldest son transferring to Butler and his youngest on his way there as well Fran had “checked out” and didn’t care as much about winning this season. To those folks I say re-watch his post-game interview following the recent road win at Rutgers. That is not a man who has stopped caring.
Regardless, there is a palpable sense that one era is ending and another coming for men’s basketball at Iowa. This hire will likely be Athletic Director Beth Goetz’ greatest challenge to date.
Currently at Iowa, men’s basketball ranks behind football, women’s basketball and likely wrestling in terms of fan affection and interest. It should be the second-highest revenue earner on campus but continues to bleed support – both ticket buying and financial.
What I will be most interested to see is how committed the athletic department is to restoring the enthusiasm and support for men’s basketball. Not only does the next hire need to resonate with an increasingly out-of-touch fanbase, but it must also be accompanied by a concerted effort to bring fans back to Carver. Is the money there? Will Iowa be able to compete in the dawning NIL era? Will Carver ever rock for the men the way it has lately for the women?
That remains unknown.
As mentioned, our family bleeds black and gold and will continue to do so regardless of coaching changes, won-loss records and overall fan interest level. It sure would be nice to have more neighbors inside cavernous Carver, though.
Breakups are rarely easy or smooth, and the end of the McCaffery era feels much like one. I do sincerely hope that Iowa basketball and Fran can remain friends.
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What you said, Tory. Totally agree. Look, I don't have a dog in this fight as a Cyclone fan and alum. I think Fran is a hothead, even a bit of a clown sometimes, and Gary Barta confirmed publicly it was "no secret" he didn't get along with play-by-play announcer Gary Dolphin. But Fran damn sure has been more successful than either of his two immediate predecessors, definitely a better individual than the latter one you mentioned. And if he is done, he sure as hell deserves a better sendoff than Dr. Tom got. That was downright disgraceful. Just remember Dr. Tom took Iowa to the Sweet 16 for a swan song and the Hawks haven't been back since. So don't let the boo birds foul the Hawk nest. Fran's the longest tenured and winningest coach in school history and has the best winning percentage since Dr. Tom. So give him his due. You dont take a guy who's given 15 years of his life to a progam and say don't let the door hit you in the rear on the way out.
I know Lute Olson is still a god in Iowa City and every coach since has had to live up to his luminescent image. But Lute left for another school. Fran hung in there all these years, he's 65 years old and this might be his last stop on the train. Give the man a break and back him and his guys. His emotions after the Rutgers game say a lot. You wouldn't have gotten that out of Alford. I much prefer a temper tantrum out of a guy who still has some passion for his team. Fran still cares and this is still a big deal to him. And good for him.
The contrast with Iowa State’s program is not helping them right now either.