Caitlin Clark Boyfriend Connor McCaffery: Career, Relationship and Life Together
Caitlin Clark has become one of the biggest names in basketball, but fans are also interested in the person who has been supporting her away from the court. That person is Connor McCaffery, a former Iowa Hawkeye basketball player who has since built a career in professional basketball coaching.
Clark and McCaffery began dating in April 2023. For several months, they kept their relationship mostly private before Clark made it public later that summer with a series of photos showing the couple together.
Since then, McCaffery has frequently been seen cheering for Clark through some of the biggest moments of her basketball career. From her historic NCAA scoring record to her move into the WNBA, he has remained a familiar face in the stands and a source of support.
Their relationship also has a strong basketball connection. Both attended the University of Iowa, where McCaffery played men’s basketball and Clark became one of the most accomplished players in women’s college basketball history.
Who Is Connor McCaffery?
Connor McCaffery is a former college basketball player and current basketball coach. He played guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was part of the program while his father, Fran McCaffery, was the team’s head coach.
McCaffery joined Iowa as part of the 2017 recruiting class after being rated a four-star recruit. During his college career, he became known for his versatility on the court and his work in the classroom.
His time at Iowa was not limited to basketball. He earned bachelor’s degrees in finance and political science when he graduated in May 2023.
His academic achievements were particularly notable. McCaffery received the team’s Academic Excellence Award for five seasons and was recognized multiple times for his academic work in the Big Ten.
That combination of athletics and academics has been an important part of his story.
When Did Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery Start Dating?
Clark and McCaffery began dating in April 2023.
The relationship was not immediately public. They spent several months together before Clark shared their romance with fans.
In August 2023, Clark posted photos of the pair enjoying time together on a boat. She captioned the carousel, “Best end to summer.”
That post gave fans their first clear public glimpse of the couple as a pair.
Their relationship has remained relatively low-key despite both being connected to the Iowa basketball community and Clark’s growing fame.
Connor McCaffery’s Sweet Birthday Message for Caitlin
McCaffery has not been shy about celebrating Clark’s accomplishments.
For her 22nd birthday in January 2024, he shared a heartfelt message praising her character and accomplishments. He told her that he admired her in every way and expressed how much he loved her.
The timing was especially interesting because Clark was about to enter one of the most historic stretches of her college basketball career.
Just one month later, she became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history.
Clark surpassed Kelsey Plum’s previous record of 3,527 points, eventually finishing her college career with 3,951 points.
McCaffery celebrated the achievement from the sidelines and shared his pride in her accomplishment.
Clark Also Celebrates Connor
The support in their relationship goes both ways.
When McCaffery turned 26 in July 2024, Clark posted her own birthday tribute.
She described celebrating him as easy and thanked him for being a selfless and loving person in her life. She also jokingly challenged him to finally find a way to outshoot her.
The playful message gave fans another glimpse into the couple’s personality away from basketball.
Although their careers are different now, basketball remains a major part of both their lives.
Connor’s Career After Iowa
After graduating from Iowa in 2023, McCaffery moved directly into professional basketball.
He first joined the Indiana Pacers as a team assistant. The position gave him an opportunity to work around an NBA organization and learn more about the professional side of the sport.
After one season with the Pacers, McCaffery moved into college coaching.
In September 2024, he joined Butler University’s men’s basketball coaching staff.
The move was particularly convenient for Clark because she was playing for the Indiana Fever nearby.
Clark publicly celebrated the news when McCaffery announced his new coaching position.
His career has continued to develop since then, with his work remaining focused on basketball and player development.
Connor McCaffery and the Indiana Fever Connection
McCaffery’s career has also kept him close to Clark during her transition into the WNBA.
Clark was selected by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft and quickly became one of the league’s most recognizable players.
With McCaffery working in the Indianapolis basketball community, the couple has been able to remain close despite their busy professional schedules.
He has regularly appeared at Fever games, often cheering from the stands.
His presence has become familiar to fans who follow Clark’s games, especially during important stretches of her professional career.
Connor Played More Than One Sport
Basketball was not McCaffery’s only athletic talent.
Before concentrating primarily on basketball, he was also a promising baseball player.
At Iowa, he played corner outfield and first base. During the 2018-19 season, he started 22 baseball games as a redshirt freshman.
At one point, his baseball potential attracted attention from scouts and analysts. He was considered a promising Big Ten draft prospect and was viewed as someone who could potentially enter the MLB draft.
However, injuries and health complications affected his baseball path. The COVID-19 pandemic also disrupted the baseball season in 2020.
Eventually, McCaffery focused his attention on basketball, where he continued developing both as a player and later as a coach.
His Father Is Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery
Basketball has been a major part of McCaffery’s family life.
His father, Fran McCaffery, has been a longtime college basketball coach and spent many years leading the Iowa men’s basketball program.
That meant Connor grew up around the sport and had an early understanding of the demands involved in coaching.
Playing for his father at Iowa gave their family relationship another layer. Fran was Connor’s coach as well as his father, something that could create unique challenges and experiences.
Connor’s decision to pursue coaching means he is now following a professional path that his father has spent decades building.
His mother, Margaret McCaffery, has also spoken about his career choice. She acknowledged that coaching has difficult sides and admitted that, selfishly, she had hoped her son might choose a different career because she knew firsthand how stressful coaching could be for a family member.
Still, she said the family would support him whatever direction he chose.
Connor Supported Caitlin During Her Biggest College Moments
One of McCaffery’s most visible roles has been supporting Clark during major moments in her career.
He celebrated when she became the NCAA women’s basketball scoring leader.
He was also there during Iowa’s run to the Final Four in 2024.
After Clark scored 41 points against LSU to help Iowa reach the Final Four, McCaffery shared his excitement online.
But his support was not limited to victories.
After Iowa lost the NCAA championship game to South Carolina on April 7, 2024, McCaffery posted a photo of Clark leaving the court and called her his “GOAT.”
The message showed that he was supporting her even after one of the toughest losses of her college career.
The Couple’s Life Away From Basketball
Clark and McCaffery have also enjoyed some memorable moments outside the basketball court.
In August 2024, the couple visited Yankee Stadium and received a behind-the-scenes experience that included meeting New York Yankees players.
They were also together at the Golden Gala fundraiser in October 2024, an event benefiting the Indiana Pacers Foundation.
These appearances have allowed fans to see another side of their relationship.
While basketball remains a huge part of their lives, the couple has also shared experiences away from games and training.
Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery’s Anniversary
The couple celebrated their first anniversary on April 24, 2024.
McCaffery marked the occasion with a loving message about their relationship. He wrote about how easy it had been to do life with Clark and said he was excited to watch her pursue her dreams.
The message came at an important time in Clark’s career, just weeks before she began her transition from college basketball to the professional game.
Their relationship has continued alongside Clark’s rapid rise in the WNBA and McCaffery’s developing coaching career.
A Relationship Built Around Basketball
One of the unique things about Clark and McCaffery’s relationship is how closely their professional lives are connected.
They both played college basketball at Iowa. Clark became a record-setting women’s basketball star, while McCaffery played for the men’s program under his father.
Today, Clark is an Indiana Fever star, while McCaffery is pursuing a career in basketball coaching.
That shared understanding of the sport gives them something in common that can be difficult to explain to people outside professional athletics.
They understand the training, travel, pressure and emotional highs and lows that come with competitive basketball.
For now, Caitlin Clark and Connor McCaffery continue to build their careers while supporting each other along the way. Their relationship has grown alongside some of the biggest moments of Clark’s basketball journey, and McCaffery remains one of the familiar faces cheering her on.
