Fran McCaffery returns to Dayton after son's surgery

(AP) Iowa coach Fran McCaffery says his son's surgery to remove a thyroid tumor went as planned and he was flying back from Iowa City to Dayton to coach the Hawkeyes in the NCAA tournament on Wednesday night.

[ MORE: See the remarkable Twitter support for Patrick McCaffery ]

McCaffery says his son Patrick, who turns 14 on Thursday, was in "good spirits" after the operation. Doctors will continue with tests in the coming days to determine further treatment.

McCaffery flew with the Hawkeyes to Dayton on Monday to prepare for their First Four matchup with fellow No. 11 seed Tennessee. He returned to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics to be with his family for Wednesday's procedure.

McCaffery says the outpouring of support and encouragement from the public has been "overwhelming."