The Indiana Hoosiers are on the hunt for a new head coach after parting ways with Archie Miller. As the program looks to return to its former glory, here are six candidates who could be the equivalent of Curt Cignetti, the successful coach who turned around the IUPUI program.
1. Mike Woodson: A former Indiana player and assistant coach, Woodson has the Hoosier bloodlines and coaching experience to lead the program back to prominence.
2. Chris Beard: With a proven track record of success at Texas Tech and Little Rock, Beard could bring a winning culture to Bloomington.
3. Ryan Odom: The current head coach at UMBC, Odom has shown his ability to build a program and lead it to success, including a historic upset over Virginia in the NCAA Tournament.
4. Dennis Gates: A former assistant coach at Florida State and Marquette, Gates has the coaching experience and recruiting chops to succeed in the Big Ten.
5. Thad Matta: A former head coach at Ohio State and Xavier, Matta has a proven track record of success in the state of Ohio and could bring stability to the Indiana program.
6. Bruiser Flint: A former head coach at Drexel and UMass, Flint has a strong coaching background and could bring a tough, defensive-minded approach to the Hoosiers.
As the search for the next Indiana basketball coach continues, these six candidates offer a mix of experience, success, and Hoosier ties that could make them the perfect fit for the job.
