Current, former Iowa basketball players pay tribute to Fran McCaffery

[ASFN Admin]

Iowa made the tough call to move on from longtime head coach Fran McCaffery on Friday.

McCaffery leaves Iowa as the program's all-time wins leader with a final record of 297-207 (143-141 Big Ten). Under McCaffery's direction, Iowa won the 2022 Big Ten Tournament and seven Hawkeyes garnered first-team All-Big Ten status and four were honored as consensus All-Americans. That group of consensus All-Americans featured forward Jarrod Uthoff (2016), forward Luka Garza (2020, 2021), forward Keegan Murray (2022) and forward Kris Murray (2023).

In his 15 seasons at the helm, McCaffery directed Iowa to seven NCAA Tournament berths, including four straight from 2019-23.

As Iowa now jumps into a head coaching search, current and former Hawkeyes voiced their support of coach McCaffery in a series of tributes across social media.

15 years ago we started this journey together when I was fortunate enough to call you Coach. Since then your mentorship and friendship have impacted me in countless ways. The example you have set as a leader and father are second to none and I’m forever grateful. Love you Man! pic.twitter.com/99rF1TtTOL

— Matt Gatens (@mattgatens) March 15, 2025

my best friend. my goat. complete legend. every guy who played for him would say the same thing. thank you for everything love you pic.twitter.com/TAZso6RDQp

— Patrick McCaffery (@patrickmccaff22) March 14, 2025

I will have your back to the day that I die. From the day you brought me in Iowa City, to the day I put on that jersey one last time in New Orleans, you had mine. You gave me the opportunity to live out a dream & completely changed my life because of it. It will not be possible… pic.twitter.com/HsbgPb6ZCG

— Jordan Bohannon (@JordanBo_3) March 15, 2025

Thank you Coach for changing my life, and the lives of so many others. You believed in a way that not many others did. Choosing to play in the black and gold was the best decision I have ever made for a lot of reasons, but mainly because I was able to be coached by you. pic.twitter.com/eMUvxb12gw

— Luka Garza ✞ (@LukaG_55) March 14, 2025

Hard to put into words how much you mean to me, Coach! From taking a chance on me before anybody else, to having my back in any circumstance. Thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime coach pic.twitter.com/zvBRwG61Dp

— Payton Sandfort (@payton_20_) March 15, 2025

One of the best to ever do it. Forever grateful for the opportunity you gave me. Thanks for everything you did for me and my family pic.twitter.com/g18rjlY7Ze

— Josh Dix (@J0shDix) March 15, 2025

Life changer,love you coach pic.twitter.com/aTpReTGacu

— Seydou Traore (@iamseydou35) March 14, 2025

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!! LOVE YOU COACH!!!! pic.twitter.com/KVEXTlTEG5

— drew_thelwell (@DrewThelwell) March 14, 2025

man , 3 years ago you took a chance on a 6ft kid from moline . you had my back from the day i got on campus and i’m forever grateful for everything you have done for me and my family . love you coach , truly one of the best in the business pic.twitter.com/D0fAuVIMyC

— brock harding (@hardingbrock2) March 14, 2025

Thank you coach for allowing me to play for you and be a small part of your coaching career. The media can say whatever they want but I am forever thankful for the opportunity to play for you. I wouldn’t be the basketball player i am without you. I love you Coach McCaffery. pic.twitter.com/N64ITAuxs2

— Owen Freeman (@_OwenFreeman) March 14, 2025

You changed my life forever and I’ll always be thankful for the chance you took on me!! Love you coach!!! pic.twitter.com/1jPX3aMNDe

— Aaron White (@Aaron_White30) March 15, 2025

Thank you for always believing in me and for pushing me to be a better player and person. I’ll always be grateful for you and the experiences I’ve had there! pic.twitter.com/YcvBliwOv7

— Filip Rebrača (@FRebraca) March 15, 2025

Coach,
Thank you for giving the opportunity to a hometown kid to live out his dream. You showed unwavering belief in me from day 1 and have changed my life.
Love you pic.twitter.com/q5pq6cJgTM

— Even Brauns (@EvenBrauns) March 15, 2025

A great coach and even better man. Thanks for everything, Coach McCaffery pic.twitter.com/6xE4TECpOZ

— Pryce Sandfort (@prycesandfort) March 15, 2025

Thank you for everything coach you taught me more than just basketball. I came to Iowa 4 years ago and it immediately felt like family you are one of the best to do it and no matter what anyone says you helped so many of your players to grow as a player and as people pic.twitter.com/GXkCprW1O5

— Riley Mulvey (@MulveyRiley) March 14, 2025

My guy for life!! A coach who has always had my back through thick & thin. Grateful for everything Coach McCaffery did for me & for the University of Iowa.

Thanks for giving a skinny kid from Bettendorf a chance pic.twitter.com/547ChHV9MG

— Nicholas Baer (@Nicholas_Baer) March 14, 2025

Coach McCaffery gave me an opportunity that no other coach did and I will never forget that! I was running out of options and he took me in and allowed me to be a part of the Iowa program which is all I wanted as a kid. Love you Coach!!!

— Carter Kingsbury (@CarterKingsbury) March 15, 2025

Fran McCaffery is an excellent Coach , an even better person and one of best family people I’ve ever watched.what Fran did at @IowaHoops was something to truly respect and how he developed players was something to be admired. The McCaffery family will always deserve their !!

— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) March 15, 2025

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Current, former Iowa basketball players pay tribute to Fran McCaffery

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