Connor McCaffery is always marking his girlfriend Caitlin Clark‘s big wins as a WNBA rookie — and now it’s her turn to celebrate him as he starts a new job.
McCaffery, 26, was announced as the new assistant coach for Butler University’s men’s basketball team on Monday, Sept. 16
Clark excitedly shared the news on her Instagram Stories, writing, “Yayyy!!! So happy for you 🤍,” alongside the official post from Butler.
The school shared the news in a statement on their athletics website.
“Following a high-level playing career, Connor has had the opportunity to both contribute and learn alongside one of the best staffs in the NBA,” Butler head coach Thad Matta said. “Those experiences will be very valuable to our staff. He obviously comes from a basketball family that I know very well and I’m excited for the impact he is going to have on our program both quickly and in the long run.”
McCaffery played for the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s team for six seasons and averaged 4.5 points, 3.2 assists and three rebounds per game in his collegiate career, according to the Bleacher Report.
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The Butler men’s team is looking to improve on their 2023-2024 season, when they finished with 18 wins and 15 losses, putting them at 8th in the Big East conference. They have not made the NCAA tournament since 2017.
Before landing his new job, McCaffery worked as a team assistant for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers for one season, after graduating from Iowa. It was a fortuitous landing spot for McCaffery, as Clark was then drafted 1st overall to the Indiana Fever in April. He’ll remain in Indianapolis with Butler.
Clark and McCaffery started dating in April 2023 but didn’t make their relationship public until four months later when Clark posted a photo with Connor on her Instagram. “Best end to summer,” she captioned a carousel of images, which featured the couple cuddled up to each other on a boat.
In January 2024, Connor posted a tribute to Clark on her 22nd birthday. “Wish I was there to celebrate with you — you deserve the best day,” he wrote. “With all that you’ve already accomplished, there is so much more in store for you and your special self. I admire you in every way and I love you.”
Connor’s prediction that there would be “so much more in store” for Clark was right. One month later, the basketball star became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history when she surpassed Kelsey Plum’s 3,527 points.
In July 2024, Clark penned her own tribute in honor of Connor’s 26th birthday. “Celebrating you is easy. Thankful to have someone as selfless and as loving as you in my life. May this be the year you finally find a way to outshoot me. Love you always,” she wrote.
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