Connor McCaffery is expected to join the college basketball coaching staff at Butler University after the departure of Greg Oden. The move will once again reunite members of the McCaffery family on the hardwood, triggered further accusations of nepotism.
Although the name-calling does not necessarily apply in this specific situation, their paths continue to cross in such frequent fashion that it can’t be coincidence.
Akeem Glaspie of the Indianapolis Star was the first to report that Oden is leaving the Bulldogs. The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft played for Thad Matta at Ohio State. Matta hired Oden to his staff shortly after he was introduced as the head coach at Butler in 2022.
Oden initially joined the team as the director of basketball operations. He was later elevated to an assistant coaching role when the NCAA expanded its rules on on-court instructors. It is currently unclear as to where the next step of his career will take him.
With Oden out, Matta is reportedly targeting Connor McCaffery as his replacement. Connor, the oldest of three brothers, is the son of Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery and the boyfriend to Caitlin Clark. He has been with the Indiana Pacers as an assistant coach since May of 2023.
Should he officially join Matta’s staff as is expected, he will have the opportunity to coach his two younger brothers. Patrick McCaffery is entering his first season with the Bulldogs after transferring from the Hawkeyes. Their youngest brother, Jack, is currently committed to Butler as a 2025 recruit.
Connor played six years of college basketball for his father at Iowa. Patrick will play for Connor after one year playing for his dad. Jack will also play for Connor.
……… Hence the cries of “nepotism” ………
Regardless of how you feel toward the McCaffery family and how they operate, it is very cool that they are sticking together. All three brothers will be Indianapolis at Butler in the not-so-distant future!