We started our coverage of Indiana’s coaching search with a wide-angle look at the entire spectrum of potential candidates we suspect AD Scott Dolson might have on his radar, from longshots to primary targets.
Now let’s distill the list into four categories: Tier 1, Tier 2, other names to know, and the candidates that seem unlikely at this point.
Coaching records through Feb. 8.
Tier 1
These are the candidates where we believe Indiana will have the heaviest level of interest, and there will be enough reciprocal interest to merit a serious pursuit.
Dusty May
Current job: Michigan head coach
- Age: 48
- Years as D1 head coach: 7
- D1 record: 144-74
May has demonstrated the ability to turn around a completely dormant program in Florida Atlantic. He led them to the 2023 Final Four. And now he is doing the exact job at Michigan that needs to be done at Indiana. Yes, he’s an IU alumnus, but his resume would be more than enough irrespective of that. That’s why Michigan hired him. Some say May won’t consider Indiana because he just took over in Ann Arbor. But that’s not relevant if he wants to the coach at his alma mater. The opportunity is there now, and there’s no way to know when it will open up again.
Brad Stevens
- Current job: Boston Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations
- Age: 48
- Years as D1 head coach: 6
- D1 record: 166-49
Stevens has been coveted by Indiana fans since he took Butler to back-to-back national championship games in 2010-11. Interestingly enough, Stevens hasn’t been a college coach since 2012-13, the last year IU had an elite team. There are many questions about Stevens, not the least of which is whether he ever wants to return to college coaching. He coached the Boston Celtics for eight seasons, and then moved to their front office. Is he still a good fit for the college game? How would he function in the NIL and transfer portal world? But of all the “you have to give him a call” candidates, Stevens seems to be the one that has better than a puncher’s chance.
Scott Drew
- Current job: Baylor head coach
- Age: 54
- Years as D1 head coach: 23
- D1 record: 482-263
All Drew has done is complete the greatest rebuild in college basketball history. It reached its completion in 2021, as he led Baylor to its first National Championship and the first Big 12 title in school history. Entering his 22nd season in 2024-25, Scott Drew is tied as the Big 12’s longest-tenured head coach. Drew is an Indiana native who coached at Valparaiso and attended Butler. He has turned down top-tier job opportunities recently, including Louisville and Kentucky last spring. It’s reasonable to wonder whether he’s at Baylor for good. But maybe coming back to Indiana means something?
Mick Cronin
- Current job: UCLA head coach
- Age: 53
- Years as D1 head coach: 21
- D1 record: 497-230
Cronin could almost certainly bring Indiana more success than what they’ve seen over the last decade. He’s won 27 or more games in five of his last eight seasons, while IU hasn’t won 27 games since 2016. He also made 11 straight NCAA Tournaments before missing a year ago. But he reached only one Final Four in that span. Cronin is a Cincinnati native. His defenses have generally been better than the offense, but he did boast three-straight KenPom top-25 offenses from 2021-2023.
Todd Golden
- Current job: Florida head coach
- Age: 39
- Years as D1 head coach: 6
- D1 record: 117-67
Coming off a road win at No. 1 Auburn, let’s talk Todd Golden. He’s having the kind of year three you look for in a new high major head coach. Florida is 20-3 while playing in the nation’s most difficult conference this year. And Golden’s offense has been KenPom top-12 each of the last two years. Golden has a wide range of influences, including Randy Bennett at St. Mary’s, Bruce Pearl at Auburn, and Kyle Smith at San Francisco. There would be some due diligence here. Florida conducted an investigation of Title IX violations by Golden, and found no wrongdoing.
Tier 2
These are the candidates that certainly have some degree of appeal, and would likely have some level of reciprocal interest. But there may be more question marks about the prospects in this group for one reason or another.
Chris Beard
Beard is a strong candidate with a Bob Knight connection, but it is difficult to see Indiana overlooking his off court domestic violence incident, even though it was a charge that was dismissed. He’d clearly be a divisive pick among the fans. But Ole Miss got comfortable, maybe IU could too.
- Current job: Ole Miss head coach
- Age: 51
- Years as D1 head coach: 10
- D1 record: 208-91
Brad Brownell
Brownell is an Indiana native. He was a former high school teammate of Calbert Cheaney in Evansville. He has had Clemson playing at a high level recently, especially on the offensive end. They went to the Elite Eight in 2024, just upset No. 2 Duke and also beat Kentucky this year.
- Current job: Clemson head coach
- Age: 56
- Years as D1 head coach: 23
- D1 record: 449-279
Chris Jans
Jans is flying under the radar in Starkville, but doing a solid job at a tough place to win. He wouldn’t be a sexy pick, but he’ll probably get a big chance somewhere.
- Current job: Mississippi State head coach
- Age: 55
- Years as D1 head coach: 9
- D1 record: 201-77
Grant McCasland
IU fans might remember McCasland coaching North Texas in 2021 when they upset Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. Now he has Texas Tech rolling at 18-4 and the No. 9 team in KenPom. His teams have consistently been among the nation’s best 3-point shooting teams, and the best and guarding the arc on the other end.
- Current job: Texas Tech head coach
- Age: 48
- Years as D1 head coach: 9
- D1 record: 196-92
Ben McCollum
McCollum might be the closest thing to the Curt Cignetti of basketball. He won four NCAA Division II national titles in a six year span (2017-2022) at Northwest Missouri State. And now he has Drake off to a 22-2 start in his first year at D-1. The only question — is it too soon to take the risk?
- Current job: Drake head coach
- Age: 43
- Years as D1 head coach: 1
- D1 record: 22-2
Greg McDermott
The longtime head coach at Creighton might not ever leave. But he could bring some modern, spaced and up-tempo offense to IU. Defense held his teams back early in his career, but McDermott’s teams have been improved on that end.
- Current job: Creighton head coach
- Age: 60
- Years as D1 head coach: 31
- D1 record: 618-361
T.J. Otzelberger
Otzelberger just signed an extension, so there’s some who believe he’ll be in Ames for the long haul. But ESPN hinted that extension might have lowered his buyout. And he’s from Big Ten country (Wisconsin), so there could be appeal. Otzelberger inherited a 2-22 team and has Iowa State among the nation’s best.
- Current job: Iowa State head coach
- Age: 47
- Years as D1 head coach: 9
- D1 record: 186-100
Shaka Smart
Smart’s teams play with great energy and there’s something very unique about his program. He hasn’t brought in a player from the transfer portal since the start of the 2022-23 season. Smart has had a KenPom top-25 offense for three straight years, and he almost always has a good defense.
- Current job: Marquette head coach
- Age: 47
- Years as D1 head coach: 16
- D1 record: 365-177
Buzz Williams
Williams might have one of his best teams this year, and he’s doing it a very challenging conference. His 18-5 season includes a win over Purdue. He’s had six seasons of 25 or more wins. But he’s only made it past the Sweet 16 once in his career — an Elite Eight appearance with Marquette in 2013.
- Current job: Texas A&M head coach
- Age: 52
- Years as D1 head coach: 18
- D1 record: 367-222
Other names to know
- Mark Byington (Vanderbilt)
- Chris Collins (Northwestern)
- Darian DeVries (West Virginia)
- Pat Kelsey (Louisville)
- Tommy Lloyd (Arizona)
- Bucky McMillian (Samford)
- Porter Moser (Oklahoma)
- Nate Oats (Alabama)
- Bruce Pearl (Auburn)
- Micah Shrewsberry (Notre Dame)
Mentioned but don’t count on it
- Steve Alford (Nevada)
- Randy Bennett (St. Mary’s)
- Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)
- Dennis Gates (Missouri)
- Fred Hoiberg (Nebraska)
- Rick Pitino (St. John’s)
- Josh Schertz (St. Louis)
- Will Wade (McNeese State)
- Jay Wright (retired)
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