‘Make It Happen’ – IU Opportunity Excites DeVries
3/20/2025 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Pass up a chance to lead one of the biggest brands in college basketball?
No way, new Indiana head coach Darian DeVries said. The opportunity was too great, the reward too special.
"Everything is in place here for us to win at a high level," he said during Wednesday's introductory press conference at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. "Our job is to make that happen."
Thirty men have coached IU since the program began in 1900. Two have won national championships -- Branch McCracken (two) and Bob Knight (three). Six have won Big Ten titles -- Everett Dean (three), McCracken (four), Lou Watson (one), Knight (11), Mike Davis (one), and Tom Crean (two).
DeVries' goal is clear -- join them, sooner rather than later in these win-big-now times.
As IU President Pam Whitten said to DeVries during the press conference, "These (IU) students want to win. Let's get them some (championship) banners."
The 49-year-old DeVries is substance over spectacle, grinder over slacker, demander over suggester. Outworking the opposition is the only acceptable approach, and it's produced a 169-68 career record over seven seasons at Drake and West Virginia with a pair of Missouri Valley Conference tournament titles and one regular season championship. His last four Drake teams won at least 25 games.
Before that, DeVries spent 17 years as an assistant coach at Creighton's consistently successful program -- 12 NCAA tourney appearances -- under highly regarded Dana Altman (now at Oregon) and Greg McDermott.
DeVries said success begins with work.
"It has to start and end there, because without that, you cannot have success."
In the middle is the 21st Century college reality of resources -- NIL, facilities, staff salaries -- along with high school recruiting, the transfer portal, and more.
"Resources certainly are a huge part of giving you those opportunities," DeVries said, "but resources do not win games. We want to be a very process-oriented program with a core fabric built around that work. The people we surround ourselves with and the players who want to be part of something special.
"We want to build something that is sustainable for a long period of time, and we will do that by staying true to what this program is about."
That demands committed university leadership, a passionate fan base and impressive NIL opportunities. Few can match IU and its Hoosier Connect platform.
"We have an administration that is 100 percent in alignment with navigating through this whole new era of college athletics, from the top down," DeVries said. "There's no doubt that there's an extreme commitment to making sure we are on the upper edge of all of that. There are resources available here that are some of the best in the country.
"We have a fan base that is passionate about the Hoosiers and provides a tremendous home-court advantage."
Basketball specifics mean defensive stops and defensive rebounding fuel full-throttle offense in which the goal is to score in the first 12 seconds to avoid facing set defenses.
"The more times you can play against a broken defense," DeVries said, "the better."
This past season, DeVries' first at West Virginia, and despite injuries to key players, the Mountaineers went 19-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big 12. They had top-10 victories over Iowa State, Gonzaga, and Kansas.
It wasn't enough to earn them a NCAA tourney bid.
DeVries said that he had a great situation at West Virginia with the resources, passion, fan base, and administration to do special things, but that Indiana was the perfect fit for a guy born in Iowa who played collegiately at Northern Iowa.
"This is a dream job for anyone, but especially for someone that grew up in the Midwest watching the old Big 8 and Big 10 basketball," he said.
IU has won five national championships and 22 Big Ten titles and has appeared in eight Final Fours.
But the last Big Ten championship came in 2016, the last Final Four appearance came in 2002, and the last national title came in 1987.
Hoosier Nation yearns for more.
IU's return to glory will come, DeVries said, when it consistently works hard, plays unselfishly and enthusiastically, and displays joy and love of university.
"Once we get there, and everyone can watch us on a nightly basis and can say with great pride on a consistent level that that is my team," he said, "that is when the banners will rise again. It's time for us to get to work."
*****
Scott Dolson, IU vice president and athletic director, said he first noticed DeVries a couple of years ago when his Drake team was so impressive in playing the University of Miami in the NCAA tourney. Dolson again noticed DeVries last November when his West Virginia team beat then No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis. IU, which also played in the tournament, lost to Gonzaga the next day, 89-73.
Dolson said DeVries' name was in the back of his mind when the coaching search began in February following then coach Mike Woodson's retirement announcement. The search included a deep dive into analytics and key metrics. One highlight -- DeVries teams won 65 percent of games decided by five points or less.
"We looked around the country," Dolson said, "and that's really significant for winning programs."
Dolson said he wanted a coach who won consistently and quickly, who had a blueprint for winning and a keen understanding of modern roster construction, and who was a proven evaluator and developer of players with a modern playing style.
Drake had won 20 or more games just five times in its history before DeVries arrived in 2018. He did it in all six of his seasons there. Drake also had been to just one NCAA tourney in its history. DeVries did it three times, and just missed making it four.
Dolson said he wanted a coach who understood and coached modern offense and blue-collar defense, and who had a system recruits wanted to play in. The data points showed DeVries had a winning formula in all aspects.
Dolson said he also wanted a great person with an incredible work ethic. His conversations with DeVries, and to multiple people around the country about him, made it clear DeVries was the best choice.
What clinched it, Dolson said, was that DeVries had a passion to be a Hoosier.
"I wanted someone who wanted to be here."
Dolson said the search process confirmed what he already knew – "this was a coveted job." He thanked Whitten's commitment and willingness to provide resources and undivided attention on the search despite "having a million things going on."
"She was so engaged and helpful."
Dolson said aligning resources with university commitment and personnel was critical, and that IU has a national reputation of doing things right and that "we're second to none in terms of our organization."
"We've got an unbelievable situation," he said. "That made this job that much more attractive.
Whitten praised Dolson for his coaching search process that was "thoughtful, strategic, and intentional," and DeVries for his recognition that it's about the student athletes as players and about the student fans who so passionately support the program; she was impressed that DeVries recognized the importance of teaching student athletes "at all times," and the importance of creating an "amazing college experience" for players and students.
As for what IU wanted in the new coach, Whitten said in addition to the importance of great character, there were three primary traits -- a great coach who really knew basketball, knowing how to win, and knowing how to be a CEO of a basketball organization.
"Darian met those traits in spades," she said. "Just a terrific man in terms of what he'll bring to Indiana."
****
DeVries will move quickly to build a roster through the transfer portal and high school recruiting.
He's well versed in the portal process, signing eight college transfers last year at West Virginia – led by his son Tucker and Oklahoma State's Javon Small – and seven in his last year at Drake.
"We want to do the best job we can to make sure they're all about the right stuff," DeVries said. "They want to come here; they want to be a part of a winner; they want to be self-motivated to accept the challenges to become the best they can be and then play to win."
IU's only signed recruit is Trent Sisley, a 6-7 forward from Heritage Hills High School in Indiana and Monteverde Academy in Florida.
DeVries said he will talk with current Hoosier players, some of whom are on spring break. Forward Malik Reneau and guard Gabe Cupps have already entered the transfer portal.
"It all comes down to fit," DeVries said. "If we have some guys on the current roster that still would love to be here and it seems to make sense for both of us, let's do that. And if there are some guys that feel like they can find a better connection somewhere else, there are no hard feelings. They didn't come here because I was the head coach, so I understand that.
"Then, as you move forward, it's finding the guys to fill around whatever holes there are. It's always good to take a few days to get in front of them, get to know each other. Let's see what that looks like for everybody."
Roster building values finding the right program fit over just signing talent, said DeVries, who had a top 25 high school recruiting class signed for next season at West Virginia.
"The biggest thing, and where you can get yourself in trouble, is you're not building a collection of players. You have to build a team, and a team has to be able to fit together, play together, win together, be able to function together.
"That's the No. 1 thing, and I've had to do it several times because basketball has changed. College athletics has changed. We've had multiple times now as a head coach we've had to sign nine, 10 guys in a given season.
"It's critical that you make sure that every player's motivation is the right motivation for why they want to be a part of your program. If their motivations are right and you get enough of those individuals with those same type of aspirations, now you have a chance to put a team together; you have a chance to win together."
In this case, that means sustained elite success. It doesn't have to be overly complicated, DeVries added.
"We don't want to make it too difficult. Simplify it. Make it what it is. We've got to be good at these certain things. You've got to have a certain level of talent, but then the teams that can do defensive rebounding, take care of the ball, play together, play unselfish, those that the teams that have the most success. That will be our focus when we put a roster together. Make sure those things are all priorities. How will this group function together when we put them out there are on game night?"
Nothing is more important, he added.
"We really believe that locker room is critical because you cannot survive without a good locker room. That's what we'll always make our focus."
******
Landing DeVries started in earnest on Sunday night when West Virginia's season ended by not making the NCAA tourney and university officials declined invitations to other postseason tournaments.
DeVries said he was quickly impressed with Dolson and Whitten because, "There was an alignment to my vision, their vision, and how do we make this go together.
"The way we want to build this program and build it to a level that is sustainable and at a very high level is there are certain things that we feel, I feel, are important in our program. All those things aligned.
"We can't cheat the process. The work has to go into it. The type of players that we bring into our program have to match what we're about.
"The majority of your winning takes place on the front end, your coaching staff, the players you bring into your program. What are their qualities, what's important to them, are they self-starters, are they self-motivated, are they team players? Those things are all important.
"As that process played out, it was clear and evident to me that this was going to be a great fit for myself, for our family.
"I can't be more excited to be here."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Pass up a chance to lead one of the biggest brands in college basketball?
No way, new Indiana head coach Darian DeVries said. The opportunity was too great, the reward too special.
"Everything is in place here for us to win at a high level," he said during Wednesday's introductory press conference at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. "Our job is to make that happen."
Thirty men have coached IU since the program began in 1900. Two have won national championships -- Branch McCracken (two) and Bob Knight (three). Six have won Big Ten titles -- Everett Dean (three), McCracken (four), Lou Watson (one), Knight (11), Mike Davis (one), and Tom Crean (two).
DeVries' goal is clear -- join them, sooner rather than later in these win-big-now times.
As IU President Pam Whitten said to DeVries during the press conference, "These (IU) students want to win. Let's get them some (championship) banners."
The 49-year-old DeVries is substance over spectacle, grinder over slacker, demander over suggester. Outworking the opposition is the only acceptable approach, and it's produced a 169-68 career record over seven seasons at Drake and West Virginia with a pair of Missouri Valley Conference tournament titles and one regular season championship. His last four Drake teams won at least 25 games.
Before that, DeVries spent 17 years as an assistant coach at Creighton's consistently successful program -- 12 NCAA tourney appearances -- under highly regarded Dana Altman (now at Oregon) and Greg McDermott.
DeVries said success begins with work.
"It has to start and end there, because without that, you cannot have success."
In the middle is the 21st Century college reality of resources -- NIL, facilities, staff salaries -- along with high school recruiting, the transfer portal, and more.
"Resources certainly are a huge part of giving you those opportunities," DeVries said, "but resources do not win games. We want to be a very process-oriented program with a core fabric built around that work. The people we surround ourselves with and the players who want to be part of something special.
"We want to build something that is sustainable for a long period of time, and we will do that by staying true to what this program is about."
That demands committed university leadership, a passionate fan base and impressive NIL opportunities. Few can match IU and its Hoosier Connect platform.
"We have an administration that is 100 percent in alignment with navigating through this whole new era of college athletics, from the top down," DeVries said. "There's no doubt that there's an extreme commitment to making sure we are on the upper edge of all of that. There are resources available here that are some of the best in the country.
"We have a fan base that is passionate about the Hoosiers and provides a tremendous home-court advantage."
Basketball specifics mean defensive stops and defensive rebounding fuel full-throttle offense in which the goal is to score in the first 12 seconds to avoid facing set defenses.
"The more times you can play against a broken defense," DeVries said, "the better."
This past season, DeVries' first at West Virginia, and despite injuries to key players, the Mountaineers went 19-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big 12. They had top-10 victories over Iowa State, Gonzaga, and Kansas.
It wasn't enough to earn them a NCAA tourney bid.
DeVries said that he had a great situation at West Virginia with the resources, passion, fan base, and administration to do special things, but that Indiana was the perfect fit for a guy born in Iowa who played collegiately at Northern Iowa.
"This is a dream job for anyone, but especially for someone that grew up in the Midwest watching the old Big 8 and Big 10 basketball," he said.
IU has won five national championships and 22 Big Ten titles and has appeared in eight Final Fours.
But the last Big Ten championship came in 2016, the last Final Four appearance came in 2002, and the last national title came in 1987.
Hoosier Nation yearns for more.
IU's return to glory will come, DeVries said, when it consistently works hard, plays unselfishly and enthusiastically, and displays joy and love of university.
"Once we get there, and everyone can watch us on a nightly basis and can say with great pride on a consistent level that that is my team," he said, "that is when the banners will rise again. It's time for us to get to work."
*****
Scott Dolson, IU vice president and athletic director, said he first noticed DeVries a couple of years ago when his Drake team was so impressive in playing the University of Miami in the NCAA tourney. Dolson again noticed DeVries last November when his West Virginia team beat then No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis. IU, which also played in the tournament, lost to Gonzaga the next day, 89-73.
Dolson said DeVries' name was in the back of his mind when the coaching search began in February following then coach Mike Woodson's retirement announcement. The search included a deep dive into analytics and key metrics. One highlight -- DeVries teams won 65 percent of games decided by five points or less.
"We looked around the country," Dolson said, "and that's really significant for winning programs."
Dolson said he wanted a coach who won consistently and quickly, who had a blueprint for winning and a keen understanding of modern roster construction, and who was a proven evaluator and developer of players with a modern playing style.
Drake had won 20 or more games just five times in its history before DeVries arrived in 2018. He did it in all six of his seasons there. Drake also had been to just one NCAA tourney in its history. DeVries did it three times, and just missed making it four.
Dolson said he wanted a coach who understood and coached modern offense and blue-collar defense, and who had a system recruits wanted to play in. The data points showed DeVries had a winning formula in all aspects.
Dolson said he also wanted a great person with an incredible work ethic. His conversations with DeVries, and to multiple people around the country about him, made it clear DeVries was the best choice.
What clinched it, Dolson said, was that DeVries had a passion to be a Hoosier.
"I wanted someone who wanted to be here."
Dolson said the search process confirmed what he already knew – "this was a coveted job." He thanked Whitten's commitment and willingness to provide resources and undivided attention on the search despite "having a million things going on."
"She was so engaged and helpful."
Dolson said aligning resources with university commitment and personnel was critical, and that IU has a national reputation of doing things right and that "we're second to none in terms of our organization."
"We've got an unbelievable situation," he said. "That made this job that much more attractive.
Whitten praised Dolson for his coaching search process that was "thoughtful, strategic, and intentional," and DeVries for his recognition that it's about the student athletes as players and about the student fans who so passionately support the program; she was impressed that DeVries recognized the importance of teaching student athletes "at all times," and the importance of creating an "amazing college experience" for players and students.
As for what IU wanted in the new coach, Whitten said in addition to the importance of great character, there were three primary traits -- a great coach who really knew basketball, knowing how to win, and knowing how to be a CEO of a basketball organization.
"Darian met those traits in spades," she said. "Just a terrific man in terms of what he'll bring to Indiana."
****
DeVries will move quickly to build a roster through the transfer portal and high school recruiting.
He's well versed in the portal process, signing eight college transfers last year at West Virginia – led by his son Tucker and Oklahoma State's Javon Small – and seven in his last year at Drake.
"We want to do the best job we can to make sure they're all about the right stuff," DeVries said. "They want to come here; they want to be a part of a winner; they want to be self-motivated to accept the challenges to become the best they can be and then play to win."
IU's only signed recruit is Trent Sisley, a 6-7 forward from Heritage Hills High School in Indiana and Monteverde Academy in Florida.
DeVries said he will talk with current Hoosier players, some of whom are on spring break. Forward Malik Reneau and guard Gabe Cupps have already entered the transfer portal.
"It all comes down to fit," DeVries said. "If we have some guys on the current roster that still would love to be here and it seems to make sense for both of us, let's do that. And if there are some guys that feel like they can find a better connection somewhere else, there are no hard feelings. They didn't come here because I was the head coach, so I understand that.
"Then, as you move forward, it's finding the guys to fill around whatever holes there are. It's always good to take a few days to get in front of them, get to know each other. Let's see what that looks like for everybody."
Roster building values finding the right program fit over just signing talent, said DeVries, who had a top 25 high school recruiting class signed for next season at West Virginia.
"The biggest thing, and where you can get yourself in trouble, is you're not building a collection of players. You have to build a team, and a team has to be able to fit together, play together, win together, be able to function together.
"That's the No. 1 thing, and I've had to do it several times because basketball has changed. College athletics has changed. We've had multiple times now as a head coach we've had to sign nine, 10 guys in a given season.
"It's critical that you make sure that every player's motivation is the right motivation for why they want to be a part of your program. If their motivations are right and you get enough of those individuals with those same type of aspirations, now you have a chance to put a team together; you have a chance to win together."
In this case, that means sustained elite success. It doesn't have to be overly complicated, DeVries added.
"We don't want to make it too difficult. Simplify it. Make it what it is. We've got to be good at these certain things. You've got to have a certain level of talent, but then the teams that can do defensive rebounding, take care of the ball, play together, play unselfish, those that the teams that have the most success. That will be our focus when we put a roster together. Make sure those things are all priorities. How will this group function together when we put them out there are on game night?"
Nothing is more important, he added.
"We really believe that locker room is critical because you cannot survive without a good locker room. That's what we'll always make our focus."
******
Landing DeVries started in earnest on Sunday night when West Virginia's season ended by not making the NCAA tourney and university officials declined invitations to other postseason tournaments.
DeVries said he was quickly impressed with Dolson and Whitten because, "There was an alignment to my vision, their vision, and how do we make this go together.
"The way we want to build this program and build it to a level that is sustainable and at a very high level is there are certain things that we feel, I feel, are important in our program. All those things aligned.
"We can't cheat the process. The work has to go into it. The type of players that we bring into our program have to match what we're about.
"The majority of your winning takes place on the front end, your coaching staff, the players you bring into your program. What are their qualities, what's important to them, are they self-starters, are they self-motivated, are they team players? Those things are all important.
"As that process played out, it was clear and evident to me that this was going to be a great fit for myself, for our family.
"I can't be more excited to be here."
Players Mentioned
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