Tom Izzo, Fran McCaffery Still Love Game

Iowa men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery said on Monday that he feels the same today as he did when he started coaching.

That’s why McCaffery, 64, isn’t planning on retiring soon.

McCaffery and the Hawkeyes play Tuesday at Michigan State, and during his media availability on Monday McCaffery was asked about what keeps coaches like him and Spartans coach Tom Izzo, who turned 69 at the end of January, going in an era when so many older coaches are getting out of the game.

“You know Tom loves it,” McCaffery said. “He's really good at it. He has nothing more to prove, he's already in the Hall of Fame. But he's not slowing down and he's not retiring anytime soon.

“And neither am I.”

McCaffery is in his 14th season at Iowa, and has been a head coach for 28 seasons. He started his career as an assistant coach at Penn in 1982-83.

“It’s one of those things where we don't know anything else,” McCaffery said. “We got into coaching right out of college and grinded our way up in the coaching profession. And being around young people on a daily basis keeps you young. And I don't look at my job any differently today than I did in 1983. I know that sounds weird, but it's the truth.

“We come in and we try to figure out how we’re going to get better. How are we going to prepare for our next opponent? What are we doing in recruiting? How are our guys doing academically? Is there anybody that's struggling, is there anybody that needs help? Is there anything going on in their lives that might need to be addressed? And then you just continue to go to work. And it sort of never ends.”

McCaffery noted the schedule that goes with being a head coach.

“Even when the season ends, the job doesn't change,” he said. “You know you go right into offseason workouts. Now we have (transfer) portal recruiting and then we have summer recruiting for high school kids. And we enjoy it.”

Tuesday’s game is another crucial one for Iowa’s postseason hopes. The Hawkeyes are 15-11 overall, 7-8 and in eighth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State, at 17-9 and 9-6, has won its last three games and eight of its last 10.

“I think you knew what they would be,” McCaffery said of the Spartans. “(Izzo) is always going to have them ready, they’re always going to play defense.”

Iowa has won four of its last five games against the Spartans. The Hawkeyes last won at Michigan State in 2021, an 88-58 victory.

“I think if you have some veteran guys that have played on the road in this league, and (Michigan State) is obviously one of the tougher places to play, you just kind of get used to it,” McCaffery said. “You have our philosophy and our style, and Tom's got his philosophy, his style. And you're going to have to make shots.”