Indiana football may have another coaching carousel battle on its hands this offseason, and two of its top assistants are already being floated as names to watch.
In a column for Sports Illustrated, Pat Forde pointed to Hoosiers offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines as coaches Maryland should consider. The connection is easy to trace: both spent several seasons under Curt Cignetti at James Madison before following him to Indiana, and both have ties to the DMV area.
That said, Forde’s mention was framed as a recommendation, not reporting that Maryland is actively targeting them or that Mike Locksley is on the way out. It should be read that way.
For Indiana fans, though, the idea is hardly unfamiliar. Success tends to put assistant coaches in the crosshairs, and the Hoosiers have seen that movie before.
After the strong 2020 season, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack left for the South Alabama head coaching job, while offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer departed for Fresno State. Both eventually climbed higher.
Shanahan and Haines have built strong résumés of their own. They’ve been among the best at what they do and have spent years learning under a coach widely regarded as one of the best in the game. That kind of pedigree makes outside interest inevitable.
Whether anything comes of it remains to be seen, but Indiana’s offseason could end up being about more than just roster movement. The coaching market at both the college and NFL coordinator levels is worth watching, especially if opportunities start to surface for Shanahan and Haines.
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For a program trying to keep climbing, Sales brings more than local star power. His size, athleticism and ceiling give Indiana an impact offensive weapon, while his decision also sends a message on the recruiting trail that the Hoosiers can now compete for elite talent in a way that once felt out of reach. The next question is how far this kind of addition can shift the program's trajectory once he gets on campus. [Read more 🡒]
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Students may notice the tradeoff most during the middle of the weekend day, when the gap can make meal planning a little less convenient. At the same time, IU is trying to soften the impact by adding a weekend brunch and expanding the Sunday dinner menu, a tweak that staff say should help improve service quality and ease workload even as some students adjust to the new routine. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Frontcourt Fix May Come Down To One Newcomer
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Yigitoglu brings a rsum that suggests he can help immediately, with his work at SMU showing he can score, rebound and protect the basket at a steady level. He has already talked about being ready for the Big Ten challenge, and for Indiana that readiness matters because the upcoming competition will ask the Hoosiers to hold up against bigger, more physical lineups than they saw a year ago. [Read more 🡒]