here we go again

Four years later and here we go again. Well, actually it’s more like 21yrs., but we have had some minimal glimpses of success sprinkled in there. But realistically, since former head coach Bob Knight was roaming the sidelines Indiana University hasn’t been what either the university, nor the fans have expected. Mike Davis, Kelvin Sampson (Dan Dakich), Tom Crean, and now Archie Miller, have all been handed the reins of the Hoosier basketball program with the hopes of them returning it to it’s storied past.

Is Indiana still a blue blood? Is Indiana still relevant on the national scene? Can either of those questions be answered with a “yes” again? I think both things can with the right people in charge, and that starts with the Athletic Department. A.D. Scott Dolson’s interview yesterday leads me to believe that the right person is in fact in charge. It seems that although this may have appeared from the outside as a knee jerk decision at first, it wasn’t. I took from listening to what he said and how he said it that some serious thought had gone into this decision.

Sometimes what appears to be the right decision on paper doesn’t turn out the way. A perfect example is Archie Miller. I can’t say he was at the top of my list when hired, but he was in the top three. And a lot of people who are much smarter than myself believed he was the answer as well. For a variety of reasons, a few of which were out of his control, it simply didn’t work out for him here at Indiana. I personally do not think that unrealistic expectations were one of the reasons either. Archie Miller will be a successful coach, it unfortunately will not be at Indiana University, as much as I would have liked for it to have been.

So, who does Dolson and IU turn to now? I don’t think there is any doubt who is at the top of everyone’s wish list to be the next coach. If anyone says otherwise I’m calling “BS.” (yes, that was intended) Brad Stevens isn’t a “home run” hire. Brad Stevens isn’t a “grand slam” hire. Brad Stevens is the “Holy Grail” hire. Is there a guarantee he will have the success that we all envision? No. There are never any guarantees. But he would unify a somewhat split fan base from the moment his hiring was announced. He brings everything to the table that the experts say you have to have in a coach in this day and age. He’s had success as a college coach. He has had success as a NBA coach. He’s young. He’s from Indiana. His wife is from Indiana. He had a passion for Indiana University basketball as a youth. He understands how to build a roster. Young players remember his success at Butler, and they know he understands what it takes to make it to the “league.” He pretty much checks every box in what it takes to be successful, and what every fan wants in the person leading their team. If I’m Scott Dolson, and obviously I’m not, I make Brad Stevens say, “NO.” And I maybe even make him say it emphatically, and more than once. Then, and only then, do I move on.

So, if Stevens does in fact say no, where does Dolson turn next? Chris Beard, Scott Drew, John Beilein, Thad Matta, Keith Smart, Dane Fife, Michael Lewis, are some examples of names that have been thrown around by fans……let’s make that clear, FANS! We all think we know best in what we want, and need in a coach. Some say we need an IU guy, whereas some say that no IU ties are necessary. Some say an NBA coach can’t relate to, and therefore recruit today’s high school players. Some say certain coaches are too old, and some say certain coaches don’t have enough experience. Some say that certain coaches may have somewhat of a sketchy past. Some just don’t like so and so coach for whatever reason. All of these are opinions, but also things that must be discussed and taken into consideration.

And because all of these things need to be considered, I’m glad we have Scott Dolson to make this decision. Dolson gets “it.” He understands what’s at stake here. An angry fan base is one thing, an apathetic fan base is another. Angry fans are showing their passion for their team and their university. Apathetic fans just simply don’t care one way or another anymore. Sure they watch the games…well, sometimes…but their lives on game day don’t center around the actual game anymore. Some fans that wouldn’t think of doing anything else on game day besides watching their beloved Hoosiers are now DVR’ing the games and watching them later. Those are the fans that the right coach brings back into the mix and makes IU’s fan base what it is known for, which is being one of the most knowledgeable and passionate fan bases there is.

There are a lot of good coaches out there that may or not be on IU’s search list. There are a lot of good coaches out there that may or may not be on the IU fans wish list. There are a lot of good coaches that would have success at a place like Indiana University, and there are a lot of good coaches who may possibly not work out at Indiana for one reason or another. There are a lot of good coaches out there that in time would the fan base behind it, have IU winning consistently, competing for B10 titles regularly, making the NCAA every year, and making the occasional deep run towards the next banner to be hung in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. But in my opinion there is only one coach that checks all of the boxes on the pro side of the pro/con list, and would make it start happening from day one.

Dear Mr. Dolson, it will be the hardest thing you have ever had to do, but you have to make Brad Stevens say no, but don’t take no for an answer. Seriously, the fan base may be divided once you get past Stevens on the list, but the one thing that they aren’t divided about is wanting to root for a winner. Which is something they consistently haven’t done for a long long time.

GO HOOSIERS!