Andrew Pace
Mike Woodson, the former head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team, announced his decision to step down at the end of the 2024-25 season. Woodson's tenure with the Hoosiers saw them reach the NCAA tournament in his first two seasons, but the team struggled more recently, with fans expressing frustration about the program's direction. While the specific reasons for his departure are not yet clear, it appears that Woodson's decision to leave was influenced by a desire to shift the focus away from him and towards supporting the team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Mike Woodson |
| Profession | Basketball coach |
| Team | Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team |
| Status | Stepping down at the end of the 2024-25 season |
| Reason | Not officially fired; decision to step down may have been mutual or exclusive to Woodson |
| Age | 66 or 67 years |
| Record | 77-49 or 77-50 overall; 1-2 in the NCAA tournament |
| Replacement | Dusty May (expected) |
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What You'll Learn
Mike Woodson's record as Indiana basketball coach
Mike Woodson, the former head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team, stepped down from his position at the end of the 2024-25 season. During his tenure, Woodson achieved notable successes and faced some challenges. Here is a detailed look at his record as Indiana's basketball coach:
Woodson was hired as the 30th head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers on March 28, 2021, with a contract worth approximately $3 million per year over six years. In his first season (2021-22), Woodson led the Hoosiers to a 21-14 record, including a 9-11 record in Big Ten Conference play. They snapped nine-game losing streaks against Purdue and Michigan and advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 Big Ten men's basketball tournament, their first appearance since 2013. Indiana also qualified for the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, winning their First Four game before losing in the first round.
The 2022-23 season saw Indiana make back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances for the first time since 2015-16. Despite missing their starting point guard for most of the season, the Hoosiers finished 23-12 overall, ranked in the top 25, and tied for second in the Big Ten with a 12-8 record. This season also marked the first time in three years that Indiana won at least one BTT game in three consecutive seasons.
Woodson's overall record with Indiana was 77-49, including a 41-39 record in Big Ten Conference play. During his tenure, the Hoosiers achieved notable wins against Xavier, Purdue, Michigan, and Illinois, improving their record against these teams. Additionally, Indiana led the Big Ten in field goal percentage and finished second in field goal percentage defense.
However, the 2024-25 season proved challenging, with Indiana on a downward spiral, losing four straight games and six of their past seven. The team was struggling, and fans expressed their frustration about the direction of the program. Despite this, Woodson remained committed to improving the team's performance and uniting Hoosier Nation in support of the program.
Woodson's decision to step down at the end of the 2024-25 season was mutual, and he expressed his love and respect for the fans, players, and the program. His contribution to Indiana basketball as a player and coach earned him a place in the IU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Indiana basketball's performance in 2024-25 season
Indiana basketball's 2024-25 season was marked by a downward spiral in performance, leading to the resignation of their head coach, Mike Woodson. The Hoosiers, as they are often called, suffered back-to-back blowout losses to Louisville and Gonzaga in late November, setting the tone for a challenging season. Despite winning nine of their next ten games, they struggled to maintain consistency and won just one game in the past month leading up to the announcement of Woodson's departure.
Woodson, a former Indiana standout himself, had a notable career as a player and coach. He joined Indiana as head coach in 2021, leading the team to a 21-14 record in his first year. The Hoosiers reached the NCAA tournament in each of his first two seasons, including a second-place finish in the Big Ten in 2023. However, the 2024-25 season proved difficult, with the team sitting at 14-9 overall and 5-7 in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers' performance in the 2024-25 season failed to meet expectations. They finished with an overall record of 19-13 and went 10-10 in Big Ten Conference play. This marked Indiana's second consecutive season without an NCAA tournament appearance. The team turned down other post-season tournament invites, bringing Woodson's tenure to a close.
Despite their struggles, Indiana made some significant moves during the offseason, acquiring one of the best transfer portal classes in the country. They secured commitments from Myles Rice, the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year; Oumar Ballo, considered the top transfer in the portal; Kanaan Carlyle, ranked tenth in the transfer portal; Luke Goode, an Indiana native; and Langdon Hatton, who shot impressive percentages from the field. These additions raised expectations for the team's performance.
The Hoosiers' 2024-25 season was also marked by the fans' vocal frustration about the direction of the program. Their confidence in the team appeared to wane, as evidenced by the images of fans leaving at halftime during a loss to Illinois. Woodson himself acknowledged the team's mental toughness issues, stating, "We're not tough... Mentally, we're not tough."
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Woodson's contract and financial details
Mike Woodson, the former head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team, stepped down from his position at the end of the 2024-25 season. While the financial terms of his resignation are unclear, his contract and amended contract provide insight into his financial situation.
Woodson was hired on March 28, 2021, with a six-year contract worth approximately $3 million per year in guaranteed income. This included a base salary of $550,000 per year and $2.45 million in outside, marketing, and promotional income. Additionally, Woodson's contract included an extensive bonus structure. For instance, he would earn $100,000 for finishing in the top three in the Big Ten regular-season standings and another $100,000 for an Academic Progress Rate (APR) score above 950.
In August 2023, Woodson signed an amended contract that increased his pay to approximately $4.2 million per year guaranteed. This amendment added substantial amounts of outside, marketing, and promotional income, as well as converting some bonuses to guaranteed compensation. The revised deal also bolstered his buyout protection, which was a significant aspect of the contract. If Woodson were to be fired before March 30, 2026, he would receive 100% of his remaining salary, which amounted to $8.4 million. Indiana University could stretch this buyout obligation into annual $1 million installments, making it more manageable for the school's budget.
While the financial details of Woodson's departure have not been announced, his contract and amended contract provide a glimpse into the financial considerations surrounding his position as head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers.
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Reaction from Indiana fans
Indiana basketball fans have had a largely negative reaction to Mike Woodson's tenure as head coach. When he was first hired in 2021, many fans were underwhelmed and had hoped for a bigger name. However, some fans were glad that an Indiana guy had been hired, believing he would understand the program.
Woodson's first two seasons were successful, with the Hoosiers reaching the NCAA tournament in both. However, the team's performance declined in his third season, and they finished outside the tournament picture. This led to criticism from fans, who took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the team's performance and their belief that Woodson was not qualified to coach a major program. Some fans called for Woodson's firing, while others defended him, citing the team's poor performance in recent years before he took over.
Despite the criticism, Indiana basketball announced that Woodson would return for a fourth season in 2024-25. However, the team continued to struggle, and Woodson himself admitted that the team was "not tough" after a loss to Wisconsin. Fans became increasingly frustrated with the direction of the program, and their lack of confidence was evident during an ugly loss to Illinois, where many fans left at halftime.
Ultimately, Woodson announced that he would be stepping down at the end of the 2024-25 season. While some fans may have been calling for his departure, Woodson's decision to step down was still met with mixed reactions. Some fans respected his decision and appreciated his efforts to rebuild the program, while others continued to criticize his coaching abilities and the team's performance during his tenure.
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Potential replacements for Woodson
Mike Woodson's departure from Indiana basketball has left a vacancy for a new head coach. Here are some potential replacements for Woodson as the Indiana Hoosiers' men's basketball coach:
Dusty May
A former student manager under Bob Knight, May is a Hoosiers alum. He is currently the coach of the Wolverines and has experience in rebuilding teams, which could be beneficial for Indiana.
Kelsey
Kelsey is an up-and-coming coach who has built a reputation as a high-energy, passionate coach. He spent nine seasons at Winthrop University, becoming one of the winningest coaches in Big South conference history. He later moved to Charleston and has a career record of 234-114, with a winning percentage of 67.2%.
James Jones
Jones has been coaching at Yale since 1999 and has become the winningest coach in the history of Yale men's basketball. He has led Yale to success, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in five of the last six seasons.
Penny Hardaway
A well-known former NBA player, Hardaway has been the head coach of the Memphis Tigers since 2018. He has a 150-66 record and has made two NCAA Tournament appearances in the last two years. Hardaway's recent playing career could be an asset for recruiting.
Shaka Smart
Smart has proven success as a coach at both smaller and larger programs. He has 16 seasons of coaching experience, 11 of which have included NCAA Tournament appearances. His success in recruiting and developing players could benefit the Hoosiers.
Other names that have been mentioned as potential candidates include Brad Stevens, Chris Beard, Chris Jans, Mark Byington, and Bucky McMillan. Indiana may consider a mid-major head coach, as they did for their football team, which could open up more possibilities for the Hoosiers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Mike Woodson stepped down as Indiana basketball coach at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Mike Woodson was the 30th head coach of Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team. He led the team to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in his first two seasons and had a 77-50 overall record.
Indiana basketball was 5-18 against Quad 1 opponents over the last two seasons. Fans vocalized their frustration about the direction of Indiana basketball during recent home games.
While the financial details of his departure haven't been announced, his contract called for him to be paid $8.4 million if he were to be fired before March 30, 2026.
