Former Iowa Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery is returning to his alma mater, Penn, following his departure from Iowa City. The university announced that McCaffery reached a deal to take over as the head coach at Penn, replacing Steve Donahue. Donahue, who led the Quakers for nine seasons, was let go after a disappointing 8-19 season. McCaffery aims to revitalize Penn’s basketball program and bring an exciting style of play to The Palestra in Philadelphia.
Expressing his excitement, McCaffery stated, “I am thrilled to return to my alma mater and the city of Philadelphia to lead the Penn men’s basketball program. My goal is to elevate Penn to prominence in the Ivy League and beyond, drawing from my positive experiences as a student-athlete and assistant coach at the university.”
During his tenure at Iowa, McCaffery accumulated a 297-206 record over 15 seasons but faced criticism for the team’s inability to advance deep in the NCAA tournament. Known for his passionate coaching style, McCaffery was let go after a 16-15 season and was ejected from his final game for disputing calls. Ben McCollum has been appointed as Iowa’s new head coach.
McCaffery, who played three seasons at Penn and led the Ivy League in assists and steals during his senior year, is eager to return to his roots and guide the Quakers back to success. Penn’s athletic director, Alanna Wren, expressed her enthusiasm for Fran’s return, praising his coaching experience and dedication to player development.
