Fran McCaffery named men’s basketball coach at UPenn

(WPHL) — The University of Pennsylvania has announced that they have officially hired Fran McCaffery as the new men’s basketball head coach.

McCaffery is a Philadelphia native and UPenn alumni class of 1982.

As a Quaker, McCaffery played three seasons for the team where he earned the nickname, “White Magic,”.

Throughout his tenure, he led the team in assists (105) and steals (51) as a senior in 1981-82 and was voted recipient of the Bus MacDonald Award as the team’s most inspirational player that season.

Following his graduation, McCaffery made his coaching debut with the Quakers as an assistant varsity coach and head sub-varsity coach.

“I am thrilled to bring Fran back to Penn and Philadelphia as our next head men’s basketball coach,” said Alanna Wren, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “Fran has had success at every level of Division I and is passionate about restoring our program to glory. His energy and enthusiasm for leading young men was apparent throughout the process and he has proven to be committed to player development and relationship-building with his student-athletes throughout his storied career.”

“I am excited and honored to return to my alma mater and the city of Philadelphia to lead the Penn men’s basketball program,” McCaffery said. “It is a program that I have fond memories of from my previous time there as a student-athlete and assistant coach. My vision is to return Penn to prominence in the Ivy League and beyond and bring an exciting style of play to The Palestra. I want to thank President Larry Jameson, AD Alanna Wren, Provost John Jackson, and Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli for providing me with this opportunity to return home. I relish the challenge and look forward to getting started.”

Throughout his college career of 43 years, McCaffery spent 29 as a head coach at Lehigh (3 seasons), UNC Greensboro (6), Siena (5), and most recently the University of Iowa where he spent 15 seasons and departed as the Hawkeyes’ all-time winningest coach with 297 victories.

As a Philadelphia native, McCaffery attended La Salle College High School.