Penn Head Coach Fran McCaffery On Quakers Unique Brand, TJ Power

Penn alumnus and new Quakers head coach Fran McCaffery made a podcast appearance alongside CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, discussing his return to his alma mater and recruiting strategies in the era of the transfer portal and NIL deals.

McCaffery described how his experience coaching in the mid-majors at Siena from 2005 to 2010 will impact his approach with the Quakers, how he brought former five-star recruit TJ Power to the Ivy League, and the feeling of being back in his hometown and setting up shop on Penn’s campus — including the overwhelming sense of nostalgia on his first day back.

Quaker Roots

“I remember the first day that I came to the office and got to work in the Palestra. Just remembering my childhood. Every Saturday night, coming to the Palestra with my mom and dad, my brother. Hoping one day to play here,” McCaffery said. 

“And then, of course, I got that opportunity and graduated from here, and stay close with the players and the coaches over the years. A number of my teammates were at my press conference. And just to be back here working. I lived 40 yards from here, and it kind of brought chills, actually, Jon… and, you know, walking to campus with prospects has been, just been an incredible feeling.”

With ties to the program dating back half a century, McCaffery gave perspective on the Quakers throughout the years, describing their unique prestige: both the chip on their shoulders and the reputation of the program across the basketball landscape. He referenced long-time North Carolina head coach Roy Williams scheduling road games to give his players a chance to see the history of the Palestra first hand, and said that during his playing days, they expected to beat Duke… although he also acknowledged that the Blue Devils provide a different level of challenge now.

“Once Penn became available, I knew I wanted to be here. I take great pride in coming back to my alma mater and trying to do something special because I believe in what this place stands for,” McCaffery said. “So I’m thankful every day that I get to come here and coach and work with this group.”

Promoting the Penn Brand

Regarding recruiting, McCaffery said that Penn possesses an advantage over other mid-major programs — often seen today as a stepping stone to bigger programs — because of the Ivy League brand. He compared the opportunity cost of NIL money from a power conference now versus the benefits of a Penn education over the course of one’s entire life.

“I think you have to believe in what you’re selling. The opportunities for networking with some of the most powerful people on our planet, essentially, to have paid internships with those folks… to go to school in a big city, with so much to offer on so many different levels, especially if you’re a business-oriented individual,” McCaffery said. 

“You want Wharton, the best graduate business school in the world. So the hospitals, the medical side, the engineering side. So we’re selling a 50-year decision. And you can easily look at, how much can I make in the next 15 months? And if that’s what you’re looking for, you might find that to be more lucrative elsewhere. But you’ll more than make up for it on the back end with us.”

McCaffery cited the Penn Quakers’ offseason as one example of the power of that recruiting strategy. Even with a coaching change, Penn lost just one player to the transfer portal. The team he departed, Iowa, retained just one player from their 2024-25 roster.

Power to Penn

Another early recruiting success, of course, was the portal acquisition of five-star power forward TJ Power, who 247Sports ranked as the No. 16 player in the class of 2023.

Fran McCaffery said that during his time with the Hawkeyes, he recruited Power harder than any other college coach did, building close relationships with his parents and high school coaches. Although Power ended up committing to Duke, his relationship with McCaffery remained. McCaffery said the duo grew closer when Power hit the transfer portal following the 2023-24 season, but he lost the recruiting battle once again, this time to Virginia.

That continued attention paid off in March 2025 when the Hawkeyes fired McCaffery.

“What was really [a] moving experience for me, you know, when it came to an end at lowa, I got two of the warmest text messages from his, from TJ’s mother and father. The relationship that we had,” McCaffery said. 

“And I said, I said, I’m not done, and I haven’t given up on coaching your son. So he recognizes, because he’s really bright. I mean, he’s bright, great personality. So hasn’t given up on the dream of the NBA and playing professional basketball for a long time. But he’s going to go play for somebody who knows him, who will get it out of him.”

TJ Power hasn’t recognized that top 25 potential yet, averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds across 9.3 minutes per game with the Cavaliers last season, but with two years of eligibility remaining, he has plenty of time to turn things around with the Quakers.

If McCaffery can take Penn back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018, expect a resurgent Power to help put the Quakers on the map.