The social media antics of former Hawkeye Connor McCaffery are making Iowa supporters impatient. After a season that most fans would characterize as extremely disappointing, Iowa men’s basketball made a tough but necessary decision last year: it fired longtime head coach Fran McCaffery. An era that brought equal parts stability and frustration came to an end with the decision.
After the Todd Lickliter years, the program was in dire need of a reset when Fran McCaffery came to Iowa City. He produced a lot of memorable moments, competitiveness, and relevance. He eventually overtook the illustrious Dr. Tom Davis as Iowa’s most successful men’s basketball coach, concluding his career with 297 wins in 2024.
Despite the program’s success during the regular season, it failed to make a significant impact when it mattered most. Under McCaffery’s leadership, Iowa’s NCAA Tournament runs frequently stalled early and never made it past the round of 32. The administration determined that a new course was required after several seasons that fell short of expectations. The majority of fans moved on after accepting that fact. But one former Hawkeye seems to be mired in the past.
Hawkeye supporters have grown increasingly enraged with Connor McCaffery, Fran’s eldest son and a former two-sport athlete at Iowa, due to his social media behavior. Connor, who was once regarded for his leadership and adaptability in both the baseball and basketball programs, has recently gained notoriety for reposting or amplifying content that subtly criticizes Iowa.
The most recent instance occurred following Iowa State’s victory over Iowa in the yearly Cy-Hawk men’s basketball rivalry game. The Cyclones’ social media team declared, “STILL OUR STATE,” in a joyful post on X. Fans and media members were immediately drawn to Connor’s decision to reshare the post.
Chris Hassel, a media personality and Hawkeye supporter, caught the repost and expressed what many Iowa fans were already wondering: why does Connor feel the need to stir things up? The decision was viewed by many as needless and trivial given everything Iowa offered him, including the chance to play two sports at a high level, compete in the Big Ten, and earn a degree.
Regretfully, this was not a singular occurrence. Since his father’s dismissal, Connor has developed a habit of interacting with or reposting anti-Iowa content. Whether deliberate or not, the pattern points to persistent animosity toward the program due to the manner in which Fran McCaffery’s tenure concluded.
On a human level, it makes sense that Connor would experience hurt. It’s difficult to watch a parent lose their job, especially one that is so closely associated with family identity. Maybe he thought his dad would be an Iowa coach forever. However, there is a boundary between public appearances at the organization that shaped your career and loyalty to family. “Once a Hawkeye, always a Hawkeye” is a well-known proverb among Hawkeye supporters. That sentiment is significant, especially in relation to rivalries. Reposting joyous content from Iowa State, arguably Iowa’s most despised in-state rival, goes against what many fans believe a former player shouldn’t do.
Regardless of one’s personal opinions regarding the coaching change, Iowa supporters feel that there is an unspoken rule: if you wear the black and gold, you shouldn’t publicly criticize the program. Not from the outside, and most definitely not by making rival trash talk more prevalent. Connor is currently developing the next stage of his basketball career as a member of Butler’s program. Many fans believe he should continue to concentrate on that. For both himself and a fan base that has already moved on, persistently bringing up old grievances and being petty on social media only serves to reopen wounds.
The truth is straightforward. After the McCaffery era, Iowa basketball has moved on. The majority of viewers are eager to see what happens next as the show takes a new turn. Connor McCaffery will eventually have to follow suit. Retaining resentment just makes the noise last longer. Everyone would benefit more from letting go, especially the person who once proudly represented the Hawkeyes on the diamond and court.
