Dane Fife leaves IU staff

[Trish]

Still a shame Dane isn’t on staff anymore. Nonetheless, I’m glad he’s found something to do. He’ll be back next year somewhere. 

[Stuhoo]

The new Hoosier Hysterics podcast yesterday had a really insightful discussion about Fife, and they pulled no punches.

They prefaced it by stating that they are friends with Fife, let Fife know that they would be discussing the article, and then took major exception with Fife on two levels:

1. Fife stated in the article that he was offered (and turned down) a contract stipulation that he would be the successor head coach if Woody followed through on his plan to retire in five years, and that can have a negative effect on recruiting. HH Eric even went as far as to state that he knew for a fact that 2025/26 recruits' families have now asked if it was true that Woody wouldn't be there for their sons' whole time at IU.
2. The HH guys stated unequivocally that per Dolson and others that Fife asked to be named Associate Head Coach, and was told "no" in no uncertain terms. They said that it is diametrically opposite to believe that Fife was rejected for an Associate Head Coach title, and to believe Fife when he says he was offered and turned down a contract stipulation to be the successor head coach.

The relevant portion begins at the 58 minute mark. 

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tL3RoZS1ob29zaWVyLWh5c3Rlcmljcy1wb2RjYXN0/episode/Z2lkOi8vYXJ0MTktZXBpc29kZS1sb2NhdG9yL1YwL2FfaDNKMXU2WF92OFdSMkR5Q1VIYkdieFY2Ulg3ZHN5MlRwN3lYTmhSUzg?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiwvqrHt876AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en

[Hoosierfan2017]

So is it actually Woody’s plan to retire in 5 years? 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

8 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

So is it actually Woody’s plan to retire in 5 years? 

Not confirmed but it makes perfectly good sense within the parameters of age and timing. 
 

That was always my primary concern with the hiring.  That’s the obvious concern of hiring a man of his age. Now, granted, the Admin should be well aware of all this and be prepared for the next step a little ahead of schedule, but it was always going to be a semi short solution to the problem. 

[Stuhoo]

14 minutes ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

So is it actually Woody’s plan to retire in 5 years? 

Another point of the podcast is that there has never been a discussion at IU about Woody's retirement plan.

As long as things are going well and he's enjoying the challenge he will be welcomed as the head coach with open arms. That could be sooner or later, as with any coach. The difference with Woody is that he won't be a 20+ year hire like Archie could have been if Archie didn't suck at IU. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

12 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Another point of the podcast is that there has never been a discussion at IU about Woody's retirement plan.

As long as things are going well and he's enjoying the challenge he will be welcomed as the head coach with open arms. That could be sooner or later, as with any coach. The difference with Woody is that he won't be a 20+ year hire like Archie could have been if Archie didn't suck at IU. 

Yep.  

[Southside]

Woody is energetic, and looks younger his age. 

Doubt we hear any retirement talk anytime soon.

And so long the team is good, I expect him coach a while. 

Just keep the check book open for assistants. If we are good this year, our assistants will be poached. 

[str8baller]

Hey…maybe Dane and Thad Matta had some valid viewpoints that shouldn’t have been so readily jettisoned?

 

 I dunno… Strange.

[Hoosierfan2017]

Eh by most accounts Fife was an abrasive **** no one liked being around. Not worth it for an assistant coach. We didn’t exactly set the world on fire in his year here either. 

[JSHoosier]

On 10/7/2022 at 8:01 PM, Southside said:

 If we are good this year, our assistants will be poached. 

Well, our assistants won't be going anywhere.

[Bowhunter]

Maybe we can get Steve Pikiell. He obviously knows how to coach!

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

21 minutes ago, Bowhunter said:

Maybe we can get Steve Pikiell. He obviously knows how to coach!

His teams can't hit the broad side of a barn either. 

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

On 10/7/2022 at 9:01 PM, Southside said:

Woody is energetic, and looks younger his age. 

Doubt we hear any retirement talk anytime soon.

And so long the team is good, I expect him coach a while. 

Just keep the check book open for assistants. If we are good this year, our assistants will be poached. 

Well.. this didn't age well. 

[pumpfake]

It would have been great if Woodson had an experienced former coach on the bench, but it really needs to be his decision and his choice - not foisted on him by an AD.

It's a shame he can't use RMK's input and experience because Mike would want it and follow it. 

[TheWatShot]

Kind of an odd time to bump this considering Matta just lost at home by 25 yesterday and Fife is coaching an AAU team. 

[str8baller]

4 minutes ago, TheWatShot said:

Kind of an odd time to bump this considering Matta just lost at home by 25 yesterday and Fife is coaching an AAU team. 

What’s his record in AAU?

[AKHoosier]

4 minutes ago, TheWatShot said:

Kind of an odd time to bump this considering Matta just lost at home by 25 yesterday and Fife is coaching an AAU team. 

And Woodson just lost at home to NW, is 2-4 in his last 6 games with the wins coming against Elon and Kennesaw State, and will likely lose the next 3.

What's your point.

[TheWatShot]

3 minutes ago, AKHoosier said:

And Woodson just lost at home to NW, is 2-4 in his last 6 games with the wins coming against Elon and Kennesaw State, and will likely lose the next 3.

What's your point.

That if they had "valid viewpoints" that could be helping us right now, they aren't exactly putting them to good use. 

[Golfman25]

2 hours ago, Hoosierfan2017 said:

Eh by most accounts Fife was an abrasive **** no one liked being around. Not worth it for an assistant coach. We didn’t exactly set the world on fire in his year here either. 

Sounds like another coach we may remember.  :) 

[Golfman25]

25 minutes ago, TheWatShot said:

Kind of an odd time to bump this considering Matta just lost at home by 25 yesterday and Fife is coaching an AAU team. 

Mike Lewis has a 7 game win streak.  :)