Penn men’s basketball is turning back the clock in more ways than one.
On Wednesday, the program announced the return of the program’s classic jerseys for the 2025-26 season. After hiring 1982 Wharton graduate Fran McCaffery as their new head coach earlier this offseason, the Red and Blue are reflecting the change in their on-court appearance as they seek to restore the team to its former glory.
“It’s almost symbolic — the fact that we’re bringing the winning Penn, the exciting Penn,” senior forward Ethan Roberts said. “It just adds another element of excitement.”
Penn debuted two new sets on its social media accounts: one all-white look with red and blue accents and an all-red jersey with white and blue accents. Both feature arching “Pennsylvania” text emblazoned on the front — a notable change from the “Penn” mark the team has utilized in recent years. The team did not confirm whether the jerseys will serve as their primary uniforms.
The Quakers last wore the style as an alternate in 2019 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Final Four team. That season, Penn donned the all-red set in a Big 5 title-clinching win over Saint Joseph’s.
The jerseys served as Penn’s primary rotation throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, including during McCaffery’s playing days. During his three years on the team from 1979 to 1982, McCaffery helped the Quakers to a pair of Ivy League titles and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1980.
“It’s cool to have a Penn alum at the helm of the program, to see how much it means to him and know the success he’s had in that jersey,” Roberts said of McCaffery. “It all makes it more special for us.”
McCaffery’s hiring triggered a summer of change on 33rd Street. The Quakers added two big-ticket transfers — former five-star recruit TJ Power and Division II standout Lucas Lueth — as well as a five-person freshman class. McCaffery’s staff additions included former Iowa assistant Tristan Spurlock, coaching veteran Ben Luber, and former Siena star Ronald Moore.
After back-to-back seventh-place Ivy League finishes, the Quakers hope their new threads will coincide with a new beginning.
“It’s a cool time to be in the Penn men’s basketball program, that’s for sure,” Roberts said. “And we all feel that, which makes it even better. That’s the feeling across the board — it’s a time of excitement, growth, and program-building.”
