You might recognize the older gentleman w the glasses in this pic even more so than his son – who is the focus of this story.
Fran McCaffery – is currently the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team. He’s taken four D1 programs to post season tournaments in his career. He previously served as head coach of Lehigh University, UNC Greensboro, & Siena. His unique look on the sidelines – old school – w the glasses & the formal attire make him hard to miss.
Fran’s son, Patrick, is currently the 3rd leading scorer on his team, averaging ~ 13 PPG. He’s no slouch. And he’s got a history of physical health ailments: diagnosed w thyroid cancer when he was only 13 & had his thyroid removed as a result. He was declared cancer-free after a grueling ordeal & since went on to become a four-star basketball prospect before joining Iowa in 2019.
Ok that’s his physical health, but what about his MH? Patrick put out a very personal note a little over a day ago: “I’ve been battling anxiety for a while, & recently it has peaked, which has inhibited my preparation & performance on the court. It’s not fair to my myself or my teammates to be on the court when I am not myself.”
“(It) has affected my sleep, appetite & stamina, which has resulted in not having the energy level necessary to compete at my full capabilities. My struggle w anxiety affects every aspect of my well-being & makes it incredibly difficult to function normally.”
So he shares very openly, & his dad Fran (slide➡️) adds: “All of us admire his courage & willingness to be open about this struggle, & we hope others know that they are not alone. We will be w him every step of the way.”
That’s only a small segment of what Fran shared, followed by Patrick’s mom, who also spoke publicly (3rd slide) & shared support.
A full family & sports community behind a public figure struggling w MH. THIS is game-changing. It’s what we need. And props to ABC9 in Iowa for using MH in the title, THEN talking abt the anxiety specifically. Most outlets did not do this. We need to start by casting the wider net. This topic is for us ALL.
