Iowa coach Fran McCaffery positive for COVID-19, out for Sunday's game vs. Minnesota

The Iowa Hawkeyes men's college basketball team is having a lousy week both on and off the court. 

Iowa confirmed Friday that head coach Fran McCaffery tested positive for COVID-19 and, as a result, will not be able to work Sunday's home game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. According to The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), assistant Billy Taylor will serve as acting head coach for that matchup. 

McCaffery's status for next Thursday's contest at the Maryland Terrapins is unclear. 

Iowa last played Monday night and lost at the Penn State Nittany Lions 90-86 in a double-overtime thriller. The Hawkeyes have now dropped three of their last four, and their game at the No. 16-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes scheduled for Thursday was postponed because Winter Storm Landon prevented Iowa from traveling. 

As Mike Hlas noted for The Gazette, Taylor had been in charge of scouting for the Minnesota game, which is why he's filling in for McCaffery on Sunday. The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish player has experience as a full-time head coach and earned Patriot League Coach of the Year honors on two occasions. 

Iowa is 14-7 overall and 4-6 in Big Ten play.