Yahoo Finance Indiana parts ways with Archie Miller after 12-15 season
Indiana will have a new men's basketball coach next season. The university made its move Monday, parting ways with Archie Miller after four seasons.
Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson confirmed the news, saying he felt a "change in leadership of our program is warranted at this time."
The move comes after a disappointing season by the Hoosiers. Indiana went just 12-15, and failed to appear in the AP Top 25 at any point in the season. It was the second straight year Indiana failed to crack the rankings.
That was true for most of Miller's tenure with the team. In his four seasons at Indiana, Miller's Hoosiers ranked in the Top 25 just once, sitting at No. 21 during the 2018-19 season. Under Miller, the team never finished above .500 in Big Ten play, nor did it reach the NCAA tournament. The team also went 0-7 against Purdue, the team's biggest rival.
Miller compiled a 67-58 overall record at Indiana. His most successful season came in 2019-20, when the Hoosiers went 20-12, albeit with just an 9-11 mark in conference play. IU likely would have earned a bid to the NCAA tournament last year, but it was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I wanted to wait until the conclusion of the season before evaluating the leadership of our men's basketball program. In the days following the completion of our season in the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, I have spent a great deal of time evaluating our recruiting, student-athlete development, leadership development, and playing philosophy and strategy. That review, combined with the on-court results, ultimately led me to conclude that a change in leadership of our program is warranted at this time," Dolson said.
Indiana will buy out the rest of Miller's contract for about $10 million. In his statement, Dolson notes "private philanthropic funding has been obtained for all transition costs and obligations related to the change in leadership," suggesting the buyout has been covered via donors and the money won't come from the university.
"We worked to secure the necessary private support following my recommendation to [IU] President [Michael] McRobbie, ensuring that there would be no charges to the university budget," Dolson said.
What's next for Indiana?
The Hoosiers won't "establish a formal search committee," according to Dolson. Instead, he will consult with "experts" to find a new coach. Given Indiana's history, Dolson shouldn't have a problem finding coaches who want the job.
But after Miller's failure with the team, Dolson will have to make sure the next coach he hires can restore Indiana back to its former glory.
"Indiana Basketball has a long, rich history of success that dates back generations. Our five national championships and 22 Big Ten titles make us one of the most accomplished programs in college basketball history. I have high expectations for our program, and we have not competed at a level within the conference or nationally that I believe we should," Dolson said.
Dolson said the school's coaching search will begin immediately.
What's next for Archie Miller?
Though he struggled at Indiana, Miller came to the university with a strong track record. Prior to joining Indiana, Miller led Dayton to a 139-63 record in six seasons. The team appeared in the Top-25 in three of Miller's final four years with Dayton. The team also made the NCAA tournament every year over that period. Dayton's best performance in the tournament came during the 2013-14 season, when Dayton reached the Elite 8 as an 11 seed.
Miller's success at Dayton should get him another opportunity. He won't be working for a basketball program as prestigious as Indiana, but he'll have a chance to prove his run with the Hoosiers was a fluke.
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