Fire Coach Woodson Thread

[Home Jersey 7,073]

1 minute ago, JSHoosier said:

I'd at least call Pearl. Yeah he's old but he could at least get things stabilized for a few years. 

You know, like we were supposed to believe Woodson could do.

I preferred BTownBruce to Dusty in last years hypothetical search… they were 1A and 1B for me. Sure, call Pearl after McCollum and before Bucky in my list… There’s a nice set of 5 for you to focus on Scott, lol

[HoosierTrav 7,841]

Someone get this to Dolson and the BoT!!! Haha. 
I make my case for Ben McCollum…

 

Why Indiana Basketball Should Give Strong Consideration to Ben McCollum When the Time Comes

 

Indiana University basketball has long stood as one of the most storied programs in college basketball history. But decades of missteps, questionable hires, and missed opportunities have left the program chasing its past rather than setting the standard for the future. One such missed opportunity haunts IU fans to this day: failing to land Brad Stevens. There was a window—brief though it may have been—when Stevens, an Indiana native and basketball visionary, could have been persuaded to return home. That window closed, and Stevens went on to cement his legacy at Butler and in the NBA.

 

Now, another golden opportunity is presenting itself, and Indiana cannot afford to miss it. Ben McCollum, the first-year head coach at Drake University, is proving that he is a transformative figure in college basketball. If Indiana wants to reclaim its seat among the blue bloods, McCollum should be at the top of the list when the time comes to make a change.

 

McCollum’s Proven Track Record of Winning

 

Ben McCollum is not a newcomer to success. Before arriving at Drake, he built Northwest Missouri State into a Division II powerhouse, winning four national championships. His teams were models of tactical brilliance, discipline, and unrelenting execution. Critics often question whether a coach can replicate that success at higher levels, but McCollum has already begun answering that question emphatically.

 

In just his first season at Drake, McCollum has the Bulldogs off to a 6-0 start, including a dominant win over Miami and legendary coach Jim Larrañaga. That victory wasn’t just a fluke—it was a masterclass in preparation and tactical superiority. What makes it even more remarkable is that McCollum is achieving these results with a significant talent gap. Four of his five starters are Division II transfers, competing against Miami’s ACC-level roster. Yet, McCollum outthought and outmaneuvered one of the most respected coaches in college basketball, turning what should have been a mismatch into a statement win.

 

Why McCollum Fits IU Basketball Perfectly

 

    1.    Tactical Genius in a Basketball Fishbowl

Indiana’s fanbase is among the most knowledgeable and passionate in the sport. This isn’t a job where weaknesses can be hidden; poor in-game decisions or flawed systems will be dissected and magnified by fans and media alike. McCollum thrives under scrutiny. His ability to break down opponents, adapt on the fly, and elevate his players’ performance is exactly what IU needs.

    2.    Proven Ability to Maximize Resources

At Northwest Missouri State, McCollum didn’t have the resources of Power 5 programs, yet he dominated. At Drake, he’s already proven capable of leveraging modest resources to achieve outsized results. Imagine what he could do with Indiana’s NIL opportunities, facilities, and recruiting pipelines. The upside is astronomical.

    3.    Championship Pedigree

McCollum is not just a winner—he’s a championship-caliber leader. His track record shows that he knows how to build a program from the ground up and sustain success. That’s the type of coach who can restore Indiana basketball’s luster and bring banners back to Bloomington.

    4.    Ability to Develop Talent

McCollum’s success with Division II transfers underscores his ability to maximize player potential. While other coaches rely on elite talent to win, McCollum wins by elevating his players through meticulous preparation, skill development, and team cohesion. This is exactly the kind of approach that wins championships in today’s college basketball landscape.

 

Why the Time Is Now

 

McCollum is not going to remain under the radar for long. He’s already proving his ability to succeed in Division I, and it’s only a matter of time before a top-10 program hires him. Once he’s in one of those jobs, the window for IU to land him will likely close forever, just as it did with Brad Stevens.

 

The risk of waiting is too great. Programs like Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke didn’t ascend to the top by playing it safe or waiting too long to make bold moves. Indiana has the resources, history, and potential to reclaim its spot among the elites, but only if it acts decisively.

 

Mitigating the Risk

 

The only real question surrounding McCollum is his ability to recruit at an elite level. But that risk is easily mitigated. With Indiana’s NIL resources, top-tier facilities, and storied tradition, the program virtually recruits itself when paired with a capable leader. Moreover, McCollum’s track record of developing talent ensures that even if he doesn’t land the absolute best recruits, he’ll get the most out of the players he brings in.

 

A Vision for the Future

 

Indiana basketball is at a crossroads. The next coaching hire will either be the move that restores the program’s greatness or solidifies its slide into mediocrity. Ben McCollum represents everything IU needs: tactical brilliance, championship pedigree, and an unmatched ability to develop players.

 

The window of opportunity is open now, but it won’t stay that way forever. McCollum’s ascent to the pinnacle of college basketball is inevitable. The only question is whether Indiana will be the program that gives him the resources to thrive—or the one left watching him win championships elsewhere.

 

The time to act is coming, and Indiana cannot afford another missed opportunity. McCollum is a rare talent, and he is exactly the kind of leader who can bring the banners back to Bloomington. The decision is simple: hire McCollum and let the rest of the college basketball world try to catch up.

 

 

[OKHOOSIER 2,116]

3 hours ago, Chris007 said:

I look at his President-GM role as a good thing. He knows how to put a team together, then he gets to coach them in this new NIL era. So Stevens is choice one for me.

Also Dusty is my second choice. He did something we never do, go into Wisconsin and win. 

Dusty has moved to 1 for me.  While I think we will see BS on the sideline again, I just do not believe it will be in college. This is looking like a colossal mistake bringing Woody back for a fourth season and letting Dusty go to a conference rival. Dusty looks like the coach we thought he probably was based on the FAU production. I know you and I talked about it like 900 pages ago (LOL) but winning at FAU is absurd. That was one of the worst jobs in the country. Maybe UM would not commit the money needed, and from a transfer perspective IU is certainly more attractive, but if this is Woody's last year I would be really surprised to see DM leave UM after one season. Which makes the next hire even more important since we have a four years minimum precedent set here. Hope I am wrong, but the early returns look like Dusty is the real deal and we missed a golden opportunity. Maybe the next guy is THE guy, but if he isn't and Dusty has a school with infinity money rolling into year 5, I do not think it is the slam dunk he will come home that some do. 

[Hornsby 1,707]

Dusty has moved to 1 for me.  While I think we will see BS on the sideline again, I just do not believe it will be in college. This is looking like a colossal mistake bringing Woody back for a fourth season and letting Dusty go to a conference rival. Dusty looks like the coach we thought he probably was based on the FAU production. I know you and I talked about it like 900 pages ago (LOL) but winning at FAU is absurd. That was one of the worst jobs in the country. Maybe UM would not commit the money needed, and from a transfer perspective IU is certainly more attractive, but if this is Woody's last year I would be really surprised to see DM leave UM after one season. Which makes the next hire even more important since we have a four years minimum precedent set here. Hope I am wrong, but the early returns look like Dusty is the real deal and we missed a golden opportunity. Maybe the next guy is THE guy, but if he isn't and Dusty has a school with infinity money rolling into year 5, I do not think it is the slam dunk he will come home that some do. 

Woodson should never ever have been brought back but he gets four years per quinn. So we gave him 6 million and said go buy a team. Dusty will be very successful imo.

Sent from my SM-A146U using Tapatalk

[JSHoosier 20,027]

9 minutes ago, Hornsby said:

Woodson should never ever have been brought back but he gets four years per quinn. So we gave him 6 million and said go buy a team. Dusty will be very successful imo.

Sent from my SM-A146U using Tapatalk
 

Woodson should've never been considered, much less hired. The fact no one wanted him for HC should've screamed do not pass go, but IU being IU took it as a giant green light instead.

[ap2345 7,667]

7 hours ago, str8baller said:

He could be coaching here now if he wanted. He could be sailing the pacific in a dingy uploading videos to YouTube if he wanted. 
 

My point being that a sitting GM leaving a team in the middle of a title run would be pretty unprecedented. One would definitely burn a few bridges leaving that way. It’s the type of thing an agent would throw their body in front of, but his wife’s his agent so maybe he doesn’t care. 

I agree. I think he would still be a tier 1 hire but maybe not as much of a slam dunk as I once did.  You see so many other successful coaches getting out of the current NIL/recruiting situation I think it’s hard to know how a coach would do in it until they’ve been in it.

Most of what Stevens has done in his career is unprecedented.  

[Unexpectedflash 1,047]

Does Brad want to be our basketball gm also as a second job lol? I think the odds of him leaving the cushiest job in basketball right now is probably 0%. Its fun to think about but president of what is looking like the best team in basketball for the next five years is much nicer than having. to go recruit college kids.

[ap2345 7,667]

1 hour ago, HoosierTrav said:

Someone get this to Dolson and the BoT!!! Haha. 
I make my case for Ben McCollum…

 

Why Indiana Basketball Should Give Strong Consideration to Ben McCollum When the Time Comes

 

Indiana University basketball has long stood as one of the most storied programs in college basketball history. But decades of missteps, questionable hires, and missed opportunities have left the program chasing its past rather than setting the standard for the future. One such missed opportunity haunts IU fans to this day: failing to land Brad Stevens. There was a window—brief though it may have been—when Stevens, an Indiana native and basketball visionary, could have been persuaded to return home. That window closed, and Stevens went on to cement his legacy at Butler and in the NBA.

 

Now, another golden opportunity is presenting itself, and Indiana cannot afford to miss it. Ben McCollum, the first-year head coach at Drake University, is proving that he is a transformative figure in college basketball. If Indiana wants to reclaim its seat among the blue bloods, McCollum should be at the top of the list when the time comes to make a change.

 

McCollum’s Proven Track Record of Winning

 

Ben McCollum is not a newcomer to success. Before arriving at Drake, he built Northwest Missouri State into a Division II powerhouse, winning four national championships. His teams were models of tactical brilliance, discipline, and unrelenting execution. Critics often question whether a coach can replicate that success at higher levels, but McCollum has already begun answering that question emphatically.

 

In just his first season at Drake, McCollum has the Bulldogs off to a 6-0 start, including a dominant win over Miami and legendary coach Jim Larrañaga. That victory wasn’t just a fluke—it was a masterclass in preparation and tactical superiority. What makes it even more remarkable is that McCollum is achieving these results with a significant talent gap. Four of his five starters are Division II transfers, competing against Miami’s ACC-level roster. Yet, McCollum outthought and outmaneuvered one of the most respected coaches in college basketball, turning what should have been a mismatch into a statement win.

 

Why McCollum Fits IU Basketball Perfectly

 

    1.    Tactical Genius in a Basketball Fishbowl

Indiana’s fanbase is among the most knowledgeable and passionate in the sport. This isn’t a job where weaknesses can be hidden; poor in-game decisions or flawed systems will be dissected and magnified by fans and media alike. McCollum thrives under scrutiny. His ability to break down opponents, adapt on the fly, and elevate his players’ performance is exactly what IU needs.

    2.    Proven Ability to Maximize Resources

At Northwest Missouri State, McCollum didn’t have the resources of Power 5 programs, yet he dominated. At Drake, he’s already proven capable of leveraging modest resources to achieve outsized results. Imagine what he could do with Indiana’s NIL opportunities, facilities, and recruiting pipelines. The upside is astronomical.

    3.    Championship Pedigree

McCollum is not just a winner—he’s a championship-caliber leader. His track record shows that he knows how to build a program from the ground up and sustain success. That’s the type of coach who can restore Indiana basketball’s luster and bring banners back to Bloomington.

    4.    Ability to Develop Talent

McCollum’s success with Division II transfers underscores his ability to maximize player potential. While other coaches rely on elite talent to win, McCollum wins by elevating his players through meticulous preparation, skill development, and team cohesion. This is exactly the kind of approach that wins championships in today’s college basketball landscape.

 

Why the Time Is Now

 

McCollum is not going to remain under the radar for long. He’s already proving his ability to succeed in Division I, and it’s only a matter of time before a top-10 program hires him. Once he’s in one of those jobs, the window for IU to land him will likely close forever, just as it did with Brad Stevens.

 

The risk of waiting is too great. Programs like Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke didn’t ascend to the top by playing it safe or waiting too long to make bold moves. Indiana has the resources, history, and potential to reclaim its spot among the elites, but only if it acts decisively.

 

Mitigating the Risk

 

The only real question surrounding McCollum is his ability to recruit at an elite level. But that risk is easily mitigated. With Indiana’s NIL resources, top-tier facilities, and storied tradition, the program virtually recruits itself when paired with a capable leader. Moreover, McCollum’s track record of developing talent ensures that even if he doesn’t land the absolute best recruits, he’ll get the most out of the players he brings in.

 

A Vision for the Future

 

Indiana basketball is at a crossroads. The next coaching hire will either be the move that restores the program’s greatness or solidifies its slide into mediocrity. Ben McCollum represents everything IU needs: tactical brilliance, championship pedigree, and an unmatched ability to develop players.

 

The window of opportunity is open now, but it won’t stay that way forever. McCollum’s ascent to the pinnacle of college basketball is inevitable. The only question is whether Indiana will be the program that gives him the resources to thrive—or the one left watching him win championships elsewhere.

 

The time to act is coming, and Indiana cannot afford another missed opportunity. McCollum is a rare talent, and he is exactly the kind of leader who can bring the banners back to Bloomington. The decision is simple: hire McCollum and let the rest of the college basketball world try to catch up.

 

 

He's in my top 5 now.

[realTomCrean 1,516]

On 12/3/2024 at 10:18 AM, IUFAN1976 said:

I still think we fire MW now and hire Crean or Fife as the interim coach and then hire a coach like Dusty May or Pearl after the season.  With this roster, either Crean or Fife would do a much better job than MW

 

[go iu bb 5,705]

1 hour ago, JSHoosier said:

Woodson should've never been considered, much less hired. The fact no one wanted him for HC should've screamed do not pass go, but IU being IU took it as a giant green light instead.

Overpaying him in the process. Then they turned around and gave him a raise simply for not being Archie Miller even though there was no risk of him leaving.

[coonhounds 8,872]

I am praying dusty fails at michigan! I can't stand the thought of our goons bringing Woodson back only to miss out on the guy we have been waiting on for 25 years!

Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

[JSHoosier 20,027]

3 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

Overpaying him in the process. Then they turned around and gave him a raise simply for not being Archie Miller even though there was no risk of him leaving.

And a buyout that doesn't drop until 2026. For a guy that no one wanted it was a masterclass in stupid.

Fortunately the modified contract gave them the ability to only pay 1mil per year for the buyout, so a bit of a redeeming factor.

[realTomCrean 1,516]

Dusty May contract details? Buyout specifically 

[Brass Cannon 24,516]

There was not this much consensus in the fanbase even at the end of Crean and Archie’s tenure.  Dude has to be done 

[Stuhoo 80,192]

10 minutes ago, coonhounds said:

I am praying dusty fails at michigan! I can't stand the thought of our goons bringing Woodson back only to miss out on the guy we have been waiting on for 25 years!

Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk
 

If Dusty fails at Michigan (he won't) this fanbase won't want him.

If Dusty succeeds at Michigan (he will) they won't let him go.

[Pagoda 129]

20 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

Dusty May contract details? Buyout specifically 

$5M going down $1M each year.  Easy peasy.

[Banksyrules 4,688]

19 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

If Dusty fails at Michigan (he won't) this fanbase won't want him.

If Dusty succeeds at Michigan (he will) they won't let him go.

Yup it’s done. 

[Hoosier DaDa 2,322]

PLEASE EVERYONE STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW BRAD "FING" STEVENS IS GOING TO FIGURE OUT THE NIL ERA OR ANYTHING ELSE AS IT PERTAINS TO HIM BEING A COACH AT IU.  THAT SH*T IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AND I CAN'T STAND HEARING ABOUT IT ANYMORE.  HE IS A MASSHOLE. 

JUST STOP

[LamarCheeks 18,586]

10 minutes ago, Hoosier DaDa said:

PLEASE EVERYONE STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW BRAD "FING" STEVENS IS GOING TO FIGURE OUT THE NIL ERA OR ANYTHING ELSE AS IT PERTAINS TO HIM BEING A COACH AT IU.  THAT SH*T IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AND I CAN'T STAND HEARING ABOUT IT ANYMORE.  HE IS A MASSHOLE. 

JUST STOP

[Kentuckysucks 2,221]

12 minutes ago, Hoosier DaDa said:

PLEASE EVERYONE STOP TALKING ABOUT HOW BRAD "FING" STEVENS IS GOING TO FIGURE OUT THE NIL ERA OR ANYTHING ELSE AS IT PERTAINS TO HIM BEING A COACH AT IU.  THAT SH*T IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AND I CAN'T STAND HEARING ABOUT IT ANYMORE.  HE IS A MASSHOLE. 

JUST STOP