Report: Penn set to hire former Iowa coach Fran McCaffery

Field Level Media|published: Wed 26th March, 12:37 2025

Mar 6, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffery reacts during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Fran McCaffery is nearing a deal to become the next head coach at Penn, CBS Sports reported on Wednesday.

McCaffery, who is a Penn alum and played for the Quakers from 1979-82, spent the past 15 seasons at Iowa and is the winningest coach in the history of the program, with 297 wins. He was dismissed on March 14 after the Hawkeyes were eliminated in the second round of the Big Ten tournament.

McCaffery, 65, served as an assistant coach for the Quakers for one season after graduating from Penn's Wharton School. He later became an assistant at Lehigh before taking over as the program's head coach in 1985.

McCaffery owns a 548-384 overall head coaching record with Lehigh (1985-88), UNC Greensboro (1999-2005), Siena (2005-10) and Iowa (2010-25).

McCaffery will take over for Steve Donahue, who was fired by Penn on March 10 after going 8-19 in 2024-25. Donahue owned a 131-130 record during his nine seasons with the Quakers.

--Field Level Media