Iowa Hawkeyes guard Connor McCaffery to join Indiana Pacers staff
Former Iowa Hawkeyes guard Connor McCaffery told Des Moines Register Hawkeyes Columnist Chad Leistikow that he is joining the Indiana Pacers staff next season.
McCaffery, who turns 25 in July, just wrapped up his sixth and final season with Iowa. He played for the Hawkeyes under his dad, head coach Fran McCaffery. He averaged 6.5 points per game in his final season in Iowa City.
Now, he's headed to the NBA, but not as a player. The ball handler is joining the Pacers, where he will be an assistant. He said that his role will feature a variety of tasks from film to scout work to being a practice dummy, according to the Des Moines Register report. It's his first-ever coaching role.
McCaffery had a connection to Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan, who was born in Iowa and worked his way from Simpson college to the NBA ranks. That relationship got the ball rolling on McCaffery joining Indiana's staff, and he has seen coaching up close his whole life via his father.
According to Leistikow and McCaffrey's conversation, the former college guard won't start working with the team until September. He is currently recovering from wrist surgery.
McCaffery said he is excited to learn from Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, and to be learning from someone other than his father. He praised the blue and gold's coaching staff in the report.
The news of McCaffery joining the team comes not long after the Pacers announced other staff changes. Assistant Calbert Cheaney is headed to the college ranks with the Indiana Hoosiers while Isaac Yacob and Martin Tombe received promotions.
The Pacers are currently prepping for June's NBA draft, but summer league and the regular season will be here in no time. Then, the new coaching staff will be off and running.
One of McCaffery's college teammates, Kris Murray, spoke with AllPacers at the NBA Draft Combine.
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