Connor McCaffery is leaving Butler after two seasons as an assistant coach, closing a brief but visible stop in his post-playing career with a farewell message on Instagram. He thanked head coach Thad Matta and the Butler staff, and Caitlin Clark answered in the comments with a simple two-word note: “Fun times 💙”.
The post marks the latest turn for McCaffery, who moved into coaching after six collegiate seasons with the Iowa Hawkeyes and had started his post-playing career in 2023 with the Indiana Pacers in basketball operations. He joined Butler’s staff in 2024 and, by the account of the school and his own message, completed two seasons in what was described as his first full-time NCAA bench role.
For Clark, the exchange fits a pattern that has followed the couple since they went public in 2023. She has regularly shown up at Butler events and backed his coaching path in public, while McCaffery has often been courtside for Fever games and some of the biggest moments of her career. The goodbye comes as Clark prepares for the 2026 season, her third in the WNBA after an injury-disrupted 2025 campaign.
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That timing matters because Clark has already reminded the league she is still very much at the center of the sport. Earlier in 2026, she helped Team USA run the table in FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifying, earning MVP honors in the process. She also remains one of the most recognizable players in the league, with two WNBA All-Star honors and a Rookie of the Year award on her resume.
The contrast is striking: McCaffery is moving on from his first major college coaching role, while Clark is heading into another season carrying the expectations that have followed her since she entered the league. His departure from Butler does not appear to slow her support, and her reply suggested the relationship remains as public and close as ever.
What changes next is McCaffery’s basketball path. After work in NBA operations, then two seasons on a college bench, he is again at a career pivot point, and Butler has now become another chapter in a resume that still looks like it is being written.
