analysis
Who's Mr. Right
IU will be looking for several characteristics in its new coach
From the moment it was learned Wednesday night that Indiana basketball Mike Davis had submitted his resignation, effective at the end of the season, the focus switched to his replacement.
Sunday's game
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Who: Indiana (13-9, 5-6 Big Ten) at Illinois (21-4, 7-4).
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When: 3:30 p.m.
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TV: WISH-8.
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Radio: WFBQ-94.7 FM.
IU athletic director Rick Greenspan said he will conduct a nationwide search, identify a few select candidates, then bring them to Bloomington to meet with IU president Adam Herbert.
Will IU look to reunite its fan base by bringing in one of its own as Davis suggested in a teleconference Monday, or hire the best person for the job? Or can one man be the answer to both questions?
Greenspan hasn't made his criteria public, but the following questions address some potential characteristics pertaining to the next IU basketball coach:
Does he need to be a big-name coach?
There's no question name recognition will be a big factor. A name coach not only will help unite the IU family, but also aid recruiting and potentially keep a few players from transferring.
Keep in mind, the hiring process for IU basketball is completely different from IU football, where Greenspan hired Terry Hoeppner. IU's football program can't work off the "A" list in terms of candidates.
The basketball program can. It continues to be a destination job. While IU no longer is a top-five program, it can be argued that the perception exists that it is. Greenspan could have his pick of name coaches.
Would a coach at a destination school consider a lateral move to IU?
This depends on Greenspan. To persuade a coach like Bill Self to leave Kansas or Billy Donovan to leave Florida, the administration must make concessions.
First, it must commit to facilities. Not a new basketball arena as much as new coaches' offices, locker room facilities, weight room, etc. Indiana's facilities are subpar. You must be able to sell recruits by more than just walking into Assembly Hall and staring at the national championship banners.
Next, IU must allow the coach to make the schedule. Davis' complaints about scheduling were met with deaf ears by fans, but the truth is the coach at a top program must have control over scheduling.
Does Indiana have to hire "one of its own" to unify the fractured fan base?
No. Hiring Steve Alford or Randy Wittman certainly would expedite the healing process, but there's more to it than that. And it's more than hiring someone who can get Indiana back to the NCAA Tournament on a yearly basis, though that clearly would help.
The next Indiana coach needs to be the complete package. Off the court, he needs to be engaging, charismatic and inspiring, like Ohio State's Thad Matta or former Utah coach Rick Majerus. The next IU coach must feel comfortable with the summer alumni golf circuit and do all the dog-and-pony shows to get the alumni back on board. (Anyone know Mark Few's golf handicap?)
On the court, he needs to have a recognizable offensive plan, prove he can make in-game adjustments and preach fundamentals. It doesn't have to be Dan Dakich or Scott Skiles; coaches such as Tennessee's Bruce Pearl, Marquette's Tom Crean and Wake Forest's Skip Prosser have shown they can handle those duties.
How important is it to sign the top in-state high school talent?
The most important thing is to get the best talent from
any state to Bloomington, but there's no question that too many good in-state players have gotten away, and that trend has to change.
Alford could make a difference with the parents of many recruits, but those players weren't born when Alford led IU to the national championship in 1987.
It's important to hire someone who makes it a priority to own the state. Matta knows that, and Crean tapped in to Indiana talent when he brought in Dominic James (Richmond).
Who could best handle the pressure of a win-or-else, high-profile job?
The only way to confidently handle that kind of pressure is to have already done it. Davis clearly didn't have that experience, but Greenspan will encounter plenty of coaches who do.
Alford has felt that kind of pressure at Iowa, just as Self has at Illinois or Kansas and Donovan at Florida.
One thing is certain: Whoever gets this job will need a thick skin. If it's an in-state guy, his honeymoon might be extended a year, but not much more.
The pressure Davis felt to perform will be there for his successor. Pressure comes with the territory at IU. The only thing that can completely ease that is being the guy who hangs the sixth national championship banner in Assembly Hall.
Call Star reporter Terry Hutchens at (317) 444-6469.
