Penn names ex-Iowa coach Fran McCaffery its men's basketball coach
Philadelphia playground legend and Pennsylvania graduate Fran McCaffery has accepted the men's basketball coaching job at his alma mater, the school announced Thursday.
McCaffery, 65, has an extensive coaching career and is one of only five head coaches to guide teams to conference tournament titles in four or more different leagues (Big Ten, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Southern Conference, East Coast Conference). In 29 seasons, McCaffery has a 548-384 overall record with NCAA Tournament (6-12 record) stops at Lehigh, UNC Greensboro, Siena and Iowa.
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For the last 15 years, McCaffery coached at Iowa and became the school's all-time leader in wins with a 297-207 overall record and 143-141 against Big Ten competition. Under McCaffery, Iowa was ranked nationally in eight different seasons and advanced to seven NCAA Tournaments but never reached the Sweet 16. McCaffery was fired on March 14 and replaced at Iowa by former Drake coach Ben McCollum.
McCaffery grew up in Philadelphia and his parents were ushers at The Palestra, where he and his brother, Jack, would attend Big 5 doubleheaders every Saturday night.
McCaffery played for one year at Wake Forest before transferring home for his final three seasons at Penn. He acquired the nickname 'White Magic' because of his playmaking ability and led the Ivy League in assists in his senior season.
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