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Caitlin Clark's Boyfriend Having Rough First Year As College Basketball Coach

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Feb 18, 2025 4:57 PM ET

Caitlin Clark's boyfriend Connor McCaffery is also a basketball lifer.

McCaffery and Clark met and began dating while both were playing for the University of Iowa. McCaffery is the son of longtime Iowa men's basketball head coach Fran McCaffery, and he played for his dad from 2017-23. In the five full seasons he suited up for the Hawkeyes, McCaffery helped the program reach four NCAA Tournaments, and it would have been 5-for-5 had COVID-19 not canceled the Big Dance in 2020.

Following the end of his playing career, McCaffery took a job as a basketball development coordinator with the NBA's Indiana Pacers for the 2023-24 season.

After that, he moved on to Butler University for 2024-25, where he'd have the chance to work under Thad Matta and coach his younger brother Patrick, who is a member of the Bulldogs.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NOVEMBER 29: Connor McCaffery #30 of the Iowa Hawkeyes dribbles during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on November 29, 2021 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images

“Following a high-level playing career, Connor has had the opportunity to both contribute and learn alongside one of the best staffs in the NBA,” Matta said when he hired McCaffery. “Those experiences will be very valuable to our staff. He obviously comes from a basketball family that I know very well and I’m excited for the impact he is going to have on our program both quickly and in the long run.”

Unfortunately, this season hasn't gone as Matta, McCaffery, or anyone involved in the Butler program had hoped.

The Bulldogs started off well, going 7-1 with victories over a ranked Mississippi State team, Big Ten foe Northwestern and ACC opponent SMU. However, things deteriorated starting with a 79-51 loss to Houston on Dec. 7.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 27: Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery take in the Salt Lake City Stars take on the Indiana Mad Ants on November 15, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Ron Hoskins/Getty Images

Overall, Butler lost nine straight games, a streak that mercifully ended with a win over Seton Hall on Jan. 15. That victory was only a brief respite though, as the Bulldogs lost three of their next four to fall to 9-13 overall.

The good news is perhaps things are finally turning around. Butler has won three in a row, beating Seton Hall, Providence and Georgetown.

Their schedule over the final three weeks of the season is tough, with games against St. John's, Creighton and Villanova, but it would be good for them to be peaking in time for the Big East Tournament.

After that, it's time to hope for some March Madness.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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