Penn alumnus Fran McCaffery -- voted the men's basketball team's "most inspirational player" in 1982 -- has left his position as head basketball coach at UNC-Greensboro to become the new head coach of Siena College, a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference school located in Loudonville, N.Y.
McCaffery, a Philadelphia native, was a point guard for the Quakers from 1980 to 1982. In his three seasons with Penn, McCaffery made two trips to the NCAA Tournament and one to the NIT. In his senior season, he led the Red and Blue in steals and assists.
McCaffery was immediately able to put his "inspirational" talents to use as Penn's assistant coach during the 1982-1983 season. In 1985, at the age of 26, McCaffery became the head coach of Lehigh, where he led the Engineers to one NCAA Tournament berth in his three-year tenure.
McCaffery then spent 11 years as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Notre Dame under John MacLeod and current ESPN analyst Richard "Digger" Phelps. Before signing on with Siena, McCaffery led UNC-Greensboro to the Southern Conference Championship in 2001 and the NIT in 2002. This past season, the Spartans defeated Davidson -- which had compiled a 16-0 league record -- in the conference tournament, but lost in the conference championship game.
"Throughout his career, he has demonstrated the ability to develop student athletes both as players and human beings," Siena President Father Kevin Mackin said. "He is a proven winner who places the best interests of his players first. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Siena community."
McCaffery will have the challenge of rebuilding a Siena program that went 6-24 under coach Rob Lanier.
The Saints struggled mightily in the MAAC, finishing in last place with a 4-14 conference record. They fell to Penn, 89-62, at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, N.Y., on Jan. 15.
-- Matthew Conrad
