Indiana has officially named West Virginia’s Darian DeVries as its new head coach.
The announcement came on Tuesday, marking a significant step for the Indiana basketball program. DeVries expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, “This is unquestionably one of the top jobs in America. As someone who grew up in the Midwest loving the game of basketball, I’ve always admired the IU Basketball program for its championship-level success, tradition, and fan support. There’s a passion to succeed at the very highest levels both within the Big Ten and in the NCAA Tournament, and that’s a desire that as a coach I share. On top of that, the alignment is there on a department and university level to make that happen. I’m excited for this opportunity and am ready to work relentlessly to assemble a staff and a roster that competes for championships.”
DeVries, who will celebrate his 50th birthday in April, recently completed his inaugural season as head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Under his leadership, the team finished with a record of 19-13, achieving notable victories in the competitive Big 12 Conference. Despite their strong performance, the Mountaineers were left out of the NCAA Tournament, being named the first team on the outside looking in during Selection Sunday.
Indiana also found itself on the tournament bubble, concluding the season with a matching 19-13 record. In February, the program announced that Mike Woodson would step down after four years, paving the way for DeVries to take the helm.
This appointment marks DeVries’ third head coaching position. His previous tenure at Drake was marked by a remarkable 150-55 record over six seasons. Under his guidance, Drake captured the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title in 2018-19 and clinched the conference tournament championship in both 2023 and 2024. He also led the Bulldogs to three NCAA Tournament appearances, securing a win in the First Four against Wichita State in 2021.
Before taking over at Drake, DeVries served as an assistant coach at Creighton, where he began his coaching career under Dana Altman in 2001. He remained with the Bluejays until 2018, when he accepted the head coaching position at Drake.
Indiana’s athletic director, Scott Dolson, shared his confidence in DeVries, stating, “We went into this coaching search with specific criteria, and Darian emerged as someone who not only met but often exceeded our expectations. After speaking with him, we were convinced he was the right choice. Darian has a vision for creating a championship culture that can compete at the highest level consistently. His extensive Division I coaching experience includes 15 NCAA Tournament appearances as a head coach or assistant.”
DeVries’ hiring represents the third head coach change for Indiana since 2017. The program previously parted ways with Tom Crean, hired Archie Miller, and then brought in Woodson, who led the Hoosiers to back-to-back tournament appearances in his first two seasons. However, Indiana fell short of the NCAA Tournament in both 2024 and 2025.
Now, DeVries faces the challenge of restoring Indiana basketball to its former glory. Since Bob Knight’s departure in 2000, the Hoosiers have had some successful seasons but have struggled to consistently compete for national titles. With only one Final Four appearance since then, in 2022, and no Sweet 16 appearances since 2016, the task ahead is significant.
Meanwhile, West Virginia will begin its search for a new head coach after a series of recent changes in leadership. Bob Huggins, the longtime head coach, resigned following a drunk driving incident in June 2023. Josh Eilert is currently serving as the interim head coach for the 2023-24 season.
