Indiana Hoosiers Hire Darian DeVries as New Head Coach

Indiana Hoosiers Welcome Darian DeVries as New Head Coach

In a move that has sent ripples through the college basketball community, the Indiana Hoosiers have officially announced the hiring of Darian DeVries as the new head coach of their men’s basketball program. This announcement, made on a Tuesday, marks a significant shift for both Indiana and DeVries, who joins the Hoosiers after a brief yet impactful stint with the West Virginia Mountaineers.

DeVries’ journey to Indiana is a fascinating one. He spent just a single season at West Virginia, stepping in to fill the shoes of interim head coach Josh Eilert, who had taken over following Bob Huggins’ resignation in June 2023. During his time with the Mountaineers, DeVries led the team to a respectable 19-13 overall record, with a 10-10 finish in the highly competitive Big 12 conference. Despite these efforts, the Mountaineers found themselves on the outside looking in on Selection Sunday, missing out on the NCAA tournament.

In a statement that resonates with his Midwestern roots, DeVries expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “This is unquestionably one of the top jobs in America. As someone who grew up in the Midwest loving the game of basketball, I’ve always admired the IU Basketball program for its championship-level success, tradition, and fan support. There’s a passion to succeed at the very highest levels both within the Big Ten and in the NCAA Tournament, and that’s a desire that as a coach I share.”

DeVries’ move to Indiana comes with a hefty price tag. He had signed a five-year deal with West Virginia, and the buyout is expected to cost a total of $6.15 million. This includes $4.67 million from his basketball contract, along with additional expenses such as the buyout West Virginia paid to Drake and other costs incurred during his hiring.

Before his tenure at West Virginia, DeVries made a name for himself at Drake, where he served as head coach for six seasons. His time with the Bulldogs was marked by success, as he guided them to three NCAA tournament appearances in his final four seasons. With a record of 150-55, DeVries ensured that Drake won at least 20 games every season. The Bulldogs clinched the Missouri Valley regular-season championship in 2019 and the conference tournament championship in both 2023 and 2024.

• Drake’s NCAA Tournament Highlights:
• 2021: Won a First Four game
• 2023: Lost in the first round to Miami
• 2024: Lost in the first round to Washington State

Indiana’s athletic director, Scott Dolson, shared his excitement about the new hire: “We went into this coaching search with some very specific things we were looking for in our next head coach, and Darian emerged as someone who, on paper, met and often exceeded our criteria. Once we had a chance to talk to him, we knew we had the right person. Darian has a plan for building a championship culture that can compete at the highest level on a year-in, year-out basis. He has extensive D-1 coaching experience that includes 15 trips to the NCAA Tournament as a head coach or as an assistant.”

DeVries’ coaching career began with a long stint at Creighton, where he spent 20 seasons on staff, including 17 years as an assistant coach under both Dana Altman and Greg McDermott. His extensive experience in Division I basketball makes him a valuable asset to the Hoosiers.

At Indiana, DeVries steps into the shoes of Mike Woodson, who announced in early February that he planned to step down at the end of his fourth season in Bloomington. Woodson, a former Indiana star, led the Hoosiers to the NCAA tournament in each of his first two seasons but faced ongoing speculation about his future. Unfortunately, Indiana missed the NCAA tournament in both of the past two years, being named one of the first four teams left out of this year’s field.

The Hoosiers are in dire need of consistent success, having advanced past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament just three times since reaching the national championship game in 2002. They’ve also missed six of the last eight NCAA tournaments under three different coaches. DeVries’ task will be to restore Indiana to its former glory as one of the all-time winningest programs in college basketball, with five national championships to its name.

Adding an intriguing layer to this story is DeVries’ son, Tucker, who has been a key player in his father’s coaching success. Tucker earned the Missouri Valley Player of the Year award in both 2023 and 2024 before following his father to West Virginia. Unfortunately, he played just eight games for the Mountaineers this season before an upper-body injury sidelined him. The school is expected to apply for a medical redshirt, which would grant him one more year of eligibility, potentially at Indiana.