The time to move on has finally come for Connor McCaffery. After two seasons of guiding the Butler Bulldogs from the sidelines, the young assistant coach has decided to take the next step in his career. And that update has quickly caught Caitlin Clark’s attention.
McCaffery officially announced his departure from the Bulldogs program through Instagram, where he shared a series of moments from the sidelines and reflected on his time there by writing, “End of an era! Forever grateful to Coach Matta for the opportunity that he gave me. Learned a lot and worked with great people 🙏🏼 excited for what’s next!,” in the caption.
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And he did not reveal what lies ahead; it was Caitlin Clark’s reaction that quickly went viral.
“Fun times 💙,” Clark wrote in the comments section to reflect on a phase that clearly meant something to both of them.
Stepping into his first full-time coaching role after a brief stint with the Indiana Pacers, McCaffery joined Butler ahead of the 2024–25 season.
But during his time with the Pacers, his main role was being the Basketball Development Coordinator. He was responsible for overseeing the scout team while assisting with scouting reports. This gave him hands-on experience in the world of coaching, which helped him secure his job with the Bulldogs.
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The foundation he built with the Pacers then translated into his college coaching career, where he took on expanded responsibilities while working under head coach Thad Matta.
During his time, the Bulldogs went 15–20 in the 2024–25 season. And in the 2025-26 season, they improved slightly to 16–16. While Butler remained a middle-of-the-pack team in the Big East and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament, the stint still provided McCaffery with valuable experience at the college level.
Before starting his career in the coaching field, Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend spent six seasons playing at the University of Iowa, where he appeared in 166 games and built a reputation as a steady presence on the court. After all, basketball runs deep in his family, with his father Fran McCaffery leading Iowa’s men’s program and his brothers also closely tied to the game.
But now, as his chapter at Butler comes to an end, McCaffery is ready for whatever comes next.
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Inside Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery’s Relationship
Clark and McCaffery began dating in April 2023 during their time at the University of Iowa, but their connection quickly stood out forhow openly supportive they were of each other.
As Clark became one of the biggest names in women’s basketball, McCaffery was always amongst her biggest supporters, be it by celebrating her record-breaking scoring run or being there for her during her low moments. And in return, Clark mirrored that same energy.
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark poses for a photo with Connor McCaffery after a NCAA Big Ten Conference women’s basketball game against Michigan, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
The couple continued to leave fans in awe by celebrating their birthdays with personal tributes and publicly supporting each other as they grew in their respective careers. Even when Clark went on to become the most headline-grabbing athlete in the WNBA, and McCaffery took the coaching path, the bond between them only grew stronger.
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When Caitlin Clark made the jump to the professional league with the Indiana Fever, she had to move to Indianapolis. So in order to stay close to his girlfriend, McCaffery also got both his coaching roles in the same city, which allowed him to remain a consistent presence in her life.
Now, as both of them continue to navigate what comes next, be it the 2026 WNBA season for Clark or the next stop for McCaffery that connection remains firmly in place.
