Fran McCaffery hired as Iowa men’s basketball coach

It’s been confirmed: Fran McCaffery is the new Iowa men’s basketball coach.

After unconfirmed reports made waves this morning, UI Sports Information Director Phil Haddy wrote in an email, “In a statement issued today, University of Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta has confirmed that Fran McCaffery will be named the new Hawkeye basketball coach.”

McCaffery will be formally introduced as a Hawkeye in a press conference tomorrow.

McCaffery spent the last five seasons coaching Siena. The Saints have claimed three straight MAAC conference and tournament championships, and won first round NCAA tourney games in ’08 and ’09. Though one of those trendy upset picks, they were beaten by Purdue in the first round this year (which I picked).

The Saints finished the season 27-7, with a conference record of 17-1 and a 17-0 home record. Four Saints averaged over 13 points per game. Though Siena’s roster didn’t feature a center this year, the Saints were stocked with quick, lengthy, and versatile forwards, who were able to run and push the ball in McCaffery’s up-tempo style, and apply pressure on defense. This is hopefully a sign of things to come in Iowa City.

Overall, McCaffery was 112-51 at Siena, and maintained a 100 percent graduation rate for players completing their college eligibility.

From 1999-‘05, McCaffery was the head coach at UNC Greensboro. He led the Spartans to a Southern Conference Tournament championship and a berth to the NCAA tourney in 2001, and also a 2002 postseason appearance in the NIT. He was 90-87 in six seasons.

For 11 years, he was an assistant at Notre Dame under Digger Phelps and John MacLeod. From 1985-’88, McCaffery was the head coach at Lehigh. When hired, he was the youngest head coach in Division I at the age of 26.

In college, McCaffery was a point guard. He spent one year at Wake Forest before transferring to Penn. Apparently, his nickname was “White Magic.”

I’ve gleaned much of this information from McCaffery’s Wikipedia page, which is in the process of being updated to reflect the news. His introduction graph is

Fran McCaffery (born May 23, 1959) is the Men’s head basketball coach at the University of Iowa. He is the former head of the Siena men's basketball program. He previously served as head coach of Lehigh and UNC Greensboro. He will be introduced as the new head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday March 29.

However, his bio nutgraph on the right side still lists his college as Siena. Actually, it was just changed. It’s history in the making, people.

Though not one of my picks (which seems to be the trend this March), I think McCaffery is a solid hire. He may not have an Iowa connection, but McCaffery runs the kind of fast paced offense and pressure defense Hawkeye basketball fans love.

The reaction on the internet boards is mixed, as it would be no matter who the Hawkeyes hired. I wish, though, Iowa would have waited until after the Final Four to make a decision (read that as “talk to Brian Gregory, then decide”).

However, McCaffery is the man. He has my support as he rebuilds the Hawkeye men’s basketball program into a perennial power. I’m pretty excited for next season. More tomorrow.