Is Fran McCaffrey still coach of Iowa men’s basketball?
Why?
Why?
It is Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025
- Thread starter tweeterhawk
- Start date
What does Iowa gain by firing him now?
Some teams fired a coach mid season and probably used it as tryout for the interim coach
April 1st, or whenever Fran's buyout cheapens, can't get here nowhere fast enough.
........ when we'll likely find out he ain't going anywhere, after all.
😢
........ when we'll likely find out he ain't going anywhere, after all.
😢
I remember when it looked like Alford was leaving to coach Missouri. Got a lot of people on this board hopes up. Then it didn’t happen. Same thing is probably happening right now with Fran.
Unwatchable, and I don't really care about the men's program anymore. Win or lose, they're just irrelevant.
It is obvious that it is time for a change and if Beth can't recognize it then the administration is part of the problem. I would make an educated guess that most every key indicator, minus high transfer rate/player defection, points to a change in leadership.
Not since Lickliter have I cared less to set aside time to watch.
Why on earth didn't Fran use the scholarships that went to Braun and Kingsberry on legit players? What made him offer Tadjo then just bury the guy on the bench. Get him some experience! Why didn't he move on from Mulvey last season if there was no plan to play him?
This last one is far fetched but I have wondered. Why is it now that he finally starts to recruit minorities..is it because there are no longer McCaffrey's on the roster?
Not since Lickliter have I cared less to set aside time to watch.
Why on earth didn't Fran use the scholarships that went to Braun and Kingsberry on legit players? What made him offer Tadjo then just bury the guy on the bench. Get him some experience! Why didn't he move on from Mulvey last season if there was no plan to play him?
This last one is far fetched but I have wondered. Why is it now that he finally starts to recruit minorities..is it because there are no longer McCaffrey's on the roster?
I agree but I keep torturing myself and watch every game especially your comment of Iowa men's BBall being irrelevant.
This forum is likely a very small percentage of the fan base, but the sentiment is the same.
It's past time for a change.
Eat whatever is left of the contract and move on.
With the schools in the B1G rolling in cash from the television contract, the $$$ has to be there.
Exactly! Of the 10 or so people in my circle that are Iowa basketball fans not one is defending Fran, everyone seems to have the same feeling of apathy. I have never asked if any of them post or read this forum but guess most if not all don't.
Yes, I am. Is that allowed, Mr. Gatekeeper, sir? Or are we only allowed to say nice things about a mediocre team with a bad coach here?
The sad fact is that the possibility of Iowa changing basketball coaches has become significantly more interesting than actually watching the team play.
Hence people talking about the possibility here, while also commenting that they don't care about watching the game.
Hence people talking about the possibility here, while also commenting that they don't care about watching the game.
Seems a little late for that. I mean, unless Matt Gatens were to run the table and win the B10 tournament, I’m not sure I would be comfortable hiring him over Devries or McCollum.
Start fresh. I would think someone who focuses on defense is a must in order for us to at least compete.
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I'd prefer an announcement that Iowa is moving on at seasons end. That way we'd know who may be in or out roster wise.
If Iowa makes a move this year, NO way they wait until April 1st! That would be program suicide with transfer portal and coaches taking other jobs!
Similar to how Indiana has already announced that Mike Woodson will be "stepping down" at the end of the season (but is still coaching and presumably still getting paid), I think Iowa could do something similar, where a change is announced and a coaching search begins, even if Fran is still under contract through April 1, when the buyout drops to $4.2M.
I wouldn't be opposed to that announcement coming at any time; but if it was me, I would make the announcement on Monday, March 10, the day after the regular season ends (whether we make the BTT or not).
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Yet it'd be such an Iowa thing to do then miss out on their top targets.
I have and do say Fran needs to go. He needs to retire/quit, not have the University pay him anything more. And what I get a little tired of of is people claiming Iowa basketball is something they don't care about anymore, which is in every thread, and then come on an Iowa basketball forum, specifically, to tell us they don't care. Fact is we do care, that's why we're here and Fran will either stay or go and we'll pay either way unfortunately.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is that if Fran goes, then the team hopefully becomes relevant and watchable again. Until he does I see little hope of anything changing.
I totally understand this point.
And 1 game doesn't make a season, but after announcing they are moving on from Woodson at season's end, Indiana just went into East Lansing and beat Michigan St last night.
So yes, pretty much absolutely nothing gained in terms of saving this season, but it could mean a lot in looking towards next season & the future as well as maybe not making the end of this season quite so crappy or apathetic any further than it already is.
Maybe they don't care to watch the team anymore.... Which is where I'm at. I care enough to post on here about basketball, because it's far more interesting that watching the beatdowns that happen in every game.
I care about the future of Iowa basketball, but an example of my "not caring"..... I had no idea they even played last Saturday....
That's apathy and it's growing exponentially for men's basketball.
I guess in the end we all have a breaking point where you say enough is enough. Mine was the UCLA game... Fran has decided to not coach or reinforce defense/rebounding. There were hopes this season with Patrick moving on and hearing about Tadjo/Traore/Thelwell that there would be an emphasis on defense and rebounding. I think Fran himself even added to the hyperbole but it didn't happen... He allowed Payton to shoot them out of early games, and he allows for poor defense to be overlooked by keeping guys in that should sit after blown assignments. How many times do you have to watch Freeman get beat on pick and roll and not do anything? Or allowing him to take defensive plays off to stay out of foul trouble? I believe you should coach them to play hard and if you foul, then foul...next man in. Not take defensive plays off to ensure your available for offensive. I am sick and tired of Fran ball, I have seen enough and I think he has been given more than enough time to be successful.
Well the Mike Woodson thing was announced in part due to pressure from donors.
Unfortunately, we don’t have many powerful Iowa basketball donors greasing the wheels for change
There are different levels of caring. It's not an on or off switch, at least I don't think that's the case for most people.
On the spectrum of fandom, I care about as little now as I did during the latter lick time. And even then it didn't go to zero.
I am interested enough currently to follow peripherally, not to spend time watching games. And as noted in the thread, I'm most interested in if/when a coaching change happens.
When a new coach is in place, at least initially, my interest level in things happening with the team will immediately increase.
I use to prioritize watching Hawk bball games, but I'm done for the year. I was a big fan of Fran for a long time, but now I think we need to move on. I'd like to see DeVries as a replacement, but I can't see that happening unless he has a clause with W VA that allows him to go to Iowa if the job comes open. I predicted before the season that this would be his last season here and very much believe that is what will happen. They will then move to Indy or some place warm.
Woodson had a BB payroll between 5-6 million this year.
Fran probably had less than a 5th of that.
Different expectations for this season.
I still watch every game and root for Hawks.
Dix and drew and the rest are desperately trying to win.
I root for them. Call me a sentimental sap.
As for Fran..i am ready to move on but would love to retain Dix, Freeman, Tadjo, Koch, Lewis,Johnson-Arigu, Briscoe, tho.
Next coach brings in some guards and we hit the road running.
Fran probably had less than a 5th of that.
Different expectations for this season.
I still watch every game and root for Hawks.
Dix and drew and the rest are desperately trying to win.
I root for them. Call me a sentimental sap.
As for Fran..i am ready to move on but would love to retain Dix, Freeman, Tadjo, Koch, Lewis,Johnson-Arigu, Briscoe, tho.
Next coach brings in some guards and we hit the road running.
Good points.
My point was just to illustrate that even if we have to keep Fran on the books until 4/1 for the lower buyout, it doesn’t mean we have to wait until then to start making moves.
All good questions - not sure about the last paragraph though. It would be interesting to see the race breakdown over a period of time vs other BigTen programs. Of late, we are definitely ‘top heavy’ with caucasians…😎
We're not very good and not going anywhere but tonites game was a fun game to watch. I wish we were better but to say you're not interested, just means you are missing some fun games even in losses. Blow outs are tough and I admit to turning a game or 2 off early. Don't watch, don't go to games, don't follow, the day will come for you and Fran will be gone. It cannot be far away
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