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Iowa Hawkeye media members recall Fran McCaffery and wifeâs mistreatment of Gary Dolphin, others
TL;DR
Fran McCaffery was fired as Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball coach in 2025 after a disappointing season. Reports reveal he and his wife mistreated media members, including Gary Dolphin, during his final years with the team.
Key points
- Fran McCaffery was fired as Iowa Hawkeyes head coach in 2025
- He had a 17â16 record, his worst since 2018
- McCaffery and his wife mistreated media members
- Gary Dolphin faced brutal treatment from the McCafferys
- McCaffery coached the Hawkeyes for 15 seasons
Mentioned in this story
Fran McCafferyGary DolphinLearfield/IMG CollegeIowa Hawkeye Sports Network
Iowa Hawkeyes
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images, Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Fran McCaffery was ousted as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyesâ menâs basketball team in 2025 following a 17â16 campaign, his worst record with the program since 2018.
After 15 seasons in the role, and as the returns diminished on the floor, things seemed to have been just as tumultuous behind the scenes.
Reporter Scott Dochterman revealed on Fridayâs episode of Legends & Listeners that McCaffery and even his wife, Margaret, were brutal to the media in the final years of his tenure with the Hawkeyes, including toward Iowa staple Gary Dolphin, the longtime play-by-play voice for the football and menâs basketball teams for Learfield/IMG College and the Iowa Hawkeye Sports Network.
âGary Dolphin had it the worst⊠[McCaffery] tried to force him out twice,â Dochterman said.
Dochterman went as far as to provide an example, saying that after Dolphin innocuously asked a player about turning around a losing streak, Margaret lost her composure and screamed at him.
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âMargaret came unglued, F-bombed him, screamed at him to the point where the leadership of both Iowa and Learfield had to be called in⊠She would scream at them when sheâs there, âI donât need to be babysat!â and this is to keep the coachâs wife from yelling at the, the Voice of the Hawkeyes.â
Itâs far from the first time the McCafferyâs mistreatment of the media has been touched on. Earlier this week, WHO-TV sportscaster Keith Murphy spoke about the McCaffery familyâs bullying tactics on Murphy & Andy, recounting a story from when he hosted the annual Coaches Versus Cancer event, during which the McCafferys were upset about Murphyâs coverage of Franâs contract extension.
Here is the story of Fran McCaffery insisting the emcee of Coaches Vs Cancer be removed or he would no longer attend.
His wife also heckled Keith Murphy as he was talking at the event.
You truly donât hate this family enough.
Anything to say? @connor_m30
Q&A
Why was Fran McCaffery fired as Iowa Hawkeyes head coach?
Fran McCaffery was ousted after a 17â16 season, marking his worst record since 2018.
What mistreatment did Gary Dolphin face from Fran McCaffery?
Gary Dolphin, the longtime play-by-play voice, was reportedly subjected to brutal treatment from McCaffery and his wife during the coach's final years.
How long did Fran McCaffery coach the Iowa Hawkeyes?
Fran McCaffery served as the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes for 15 seasons.
What were the consequences of McCaffery's behavior towards the media?
The mistreatment of media members contributed to a tumultuous environment and ultimately led to his dismissal as head coach.