On February 2, 2025, Caitlin Clark’s jersey retirement ceremony marked a monumental moment for the Iowa community. While the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team celebrated the event, it wasn’t just the women’s team that recognized the significance. The entire Iowa school system, from faculty to students, was touched by the legacy of Clark’s exceptional basketball career. Her No. 22 jersey’s retirement symbolizes the four years of groundbreaking performances that not only shaped the university’s basketball history but also elevated its reputation across the nation.
Among those who witnessed Clark’s historic journey was Fran McCaffery, the head coach of Iowa’s men’s basketball team. McCaffery, who has been leading the men’s program since 2010, holds the distinction of becoming the winningest coach in Iowa basketball history as of January 2024. Having secured his 500th career win in December 2022, McCaffery is a well-established figure in college basketball. His insights into the Iowa basketball scene are highly regarded, and his perspective on Caitlin Clark’s career carries significant weight.
Adding a personal layer to McCaffery’s connection to Clark, he is also the father of Connor McCaffery, Clark’s boyfriend. This unique position allowed him to witness Clark’s growth both as a player and as a person. During a February 3 interview, McCaffery shared his thoughts on Clark’s achievements, reflecting on her impact not just on Iowa’s women’s basketball team, but on the broader sports landscape.
McCaffery expressed deep admiration for Clark’s accomplishments, saying, “It really meant a lot to her, and understandably so.” He emphasized the importance of the event, noting the presence of Clark’s current teammates as well as past players who returned to support her. He remarked, “What she did, not only for our program but for women’s basketball, has been nothing that we’ve ever seen before, nothing we could have envisioned.” McCaffery also acknowledged the significance of the support Clark received from both her family and the program as a whole.
Reflecting on Clark’s early potential, McCaffery recalled seeing her extraordinary talent as a freshman. He said, “You could kind of see it coming when she was a freshman, with how great she was… I said, ‘This is a generational talent.’” He quickly recognized her exceptional abilities after just 10-15 games, a testament to McCaffery’s keen basketball insight. “If you know anything about that game, you could see that,” he added. His comments highlighted his early confidence in Clark’s abilities, which turned out to be more than just a hunch but a well-judged observation of a future legend in the making.
In conclusion, McCaffery expressed his happiness for Clark and her family, as well as for the entire Iowa basketball program. His words underscored the monumental nature of Clark’s legacy, not only within the Iowa community but across the world of women’s sports. McCaffery’s recognition of Clark’s impact reflects the pride and admiration shared by everyone connected to Iowa basketball.
