When Connor McCaffery accepted the position of assistant coach for the Butler Bulldogs, he wasn’t the most excited person in the room. That belonged to Caitlin Clark. “I’m super excited for him. Obviously, his basketball knowledge is pretty good,” she shared at the time. And ever since, CC has been a courtside regular at every major Butler game, whether it was their season opener or a showdown against Merrimack. She’s been there. And just like that, the new journey has reached the one-year mark. But it’s not the one Caitlin’s celebrating right now!
Commemorating his first year with the Bulldogs, McCaffery shared a collection of clicks on his Instagram. From the heartwarming moments with his brother Patrick to sweating it out in practice, the assistant coach celebrated the transition to year 2. But Clark’s focus lay elsewhere.
“Your editing and cropping skills r really good” her comment read.
We shall assume Clark must know. Because remember her during the first injury setback, a quadriceps? She was out flaunting her photography skills after Bri Lewerke had handed her a camera. She received the nods too! Not just from Lewerke, but Lexie Hull had asked her to “add it to the resume.”
But coming back, truth be told, all five pictures Connor shared, captured not just his journey, but the essence of the bond he’s developed with the Bulldogs and the game itself. And honestly, we’ve seen that too!
When Connor joined Butler’s coaching staff, he brought valuable NBA development experience from his time with the Indiana Pacers. Something Thad Matta was banking on. Soon, he helped in guiding Butler to a 15–20 overall record and a 6–14 mark in Big East play—an important rebuilding year for a program adjusting after multiple key departures.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Bulldogs earned a spot in the inaugural College Basketball Crown postseason tournament. There, they pulled off a nail-biting upset over Utah (86–84) before falling to Boise State in the quarterfinals.
So when CC said earlier in the season, “he’s been around it his whole life and invested a lot into it,” she meant every word. After all, Connor is the son of Fran McCaffery, Iowa’s longtime head coach, and learned the game under his watchful eye. Proving himself matters. But it becomes a whole lot easier when you have someone like Caitlin Clark standing beside you—no matter the situation. Remember her dedication during the offseason?
It was Caitlin’s first-ever offseason as a WNBA player, but she made every moment count by supporting Connor. She attended as many Butler games as possible, sometimes even bringing her family or delaying Thanksgiving dinner just to show up. And even amid intense media and fan scrutiny, Clark appeared “completely unbothered” at Butler games, blocking out distractions and showing up anyway.
Well, there was even that one game day where she attended Iowa’s Big Ten tournament matchup first, then made her way to Hinkle Fieldhouse to catch Butler in action, all in the same day. Yeah, she become known as Butler’s unofficial hype woman. She knows how much he’s poured into this path.
Connor McCaffery aims to climb the ladder
Connor McCaffery has always been close to the hardwood. As the son of Iowa men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery, the game runs in his blood. So when he told the Des Moines Register, “It’s a way in… It’s an entry-level job. You’ve got to work hard and work your way up. That’s obviously what I want to do,” he wasn’t treating coaching like a side hustle.
Even with dual degrees in finance and political science, he followed the pull of basketball. His mother, Margaret McCaffery, had her reservations. During a 2023 Sports Illustrated interview, she admitted, “Selfishly, that’s why I didn’t want him to go into coaching. It’s excruciating to watch my husband. I don’t anticipate it will be way better watching my son.” But this is the McCaffery family; basketball runs deep in their DNA. And even though Connor once pursued a career in baseball, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed that dream. The court, however, was always calling him back.
Now, a year into coaching, Connor’s journey stands as a reminder that he’s right where he belongs. And with someone like Caitlin Clark in his corner, celebrating every milestone—personal or professional—it’s safe to say, he’s just getting started!
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