Sports 3 min read

Former Butler basketball player Jack McCaffery diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma

By The Best News Network November 9, 2026

A former Butler basketball player has become the second member of his family diagnosed with cancer.

Jack McCaffery, who played his freshman season in 2025-26 for the Bulldogs, has been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and was placed on indefinite medical leave, according to a news release from the Richmond basketball program.

"Jack was seen by medical staff at Richmond earlier this week and, following his evaluation, he traveled home with his parents and was admitted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania," the Richmond release said. "He will remain there and has begun a course of treatment under the care of the doctors and nurses at Penn Medicine."

Said Dr. Alison Wakoff of Penn Medicine: "Any cancer diagnosis is distressing, especially at a young age, but we are confident in Jack's treatment plan and Penn Medicine's team of lymphoma experts. Hodgkin's lymphoma mainly affects young people in their 20's, but it is a highly curable form of cancer, thanks to years of dedicated research. Our goal is to get Jack through his treatments safely and to return him to school and to his teammates on the basketball court as soon as we can."

McCaffery appeared in nine games as a freshman for Butler last season but missed most of the year with injuries.

The 6-9 wing is the son of Penn coach Fran McCaffery, previously the longtime Iowa coach. McCaffery's brother Patrick, who played for Iowa and Butler between 2019-25, was diagnosed with pediatric thyroid cancer at age 14 but was cleared after undergoing radioactive iodine treatment.

"We are grateful to the Richmond coaching staff and medical team for their prompt response, and to Kevin Mahoney and the doctors and nurses here at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania," Fran McCaffery said in a release. "He is in great hands and our family feels blessed to be here, where Jack's care is directed by this world-class care team."

Another brother, Connor McCaffery, is a Noblesville Boom assistant coach who dates Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark.

What is Hodgkin lymphoma?

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system, which is part of the immune system, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. It is the most common cancer in teens 15-19 in the United States, and it has a 95% survival rate. The most common treatment is chemotherapy, according to St. Jude.