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Indiana Basketball: 7 potential candidates to become next HC if Mike Woodson is fired

Jan 14, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Mike Woodson instructs his team as Indiana Hoosiers forward Luke Goode (10) and Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Mgbako (21) check in to the game during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Jan 14, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Mike Woodson instructs his team as Indiana Hoosiers forward Luke Goode (10) and Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Mgbako (21) check in to the game during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
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Jay Wright

If Woodson is fired during the season or shortly after it, it’ll be two straight head coaches that last just four seasons for the Hoosiers. Barely surviving an entire recruiting cycle isn’t as bad as it used to be with how quickly rosters can rebuild using the Transfer Portal, but it also doesn’t mean that the next head coach has to be some young guy in place for years to come. Wright could fit the bill as an experienced coach coming to town to stabilize the Hoosiers.

A former player at Bucknell, Wright was a collegiate assistant for a decade, with stints under the great Rollie Massimino at multiple schools. He had a solid seven-year run leading Hofstra before getting the head coaching job at Villanova back in 2001. Across the next 21 years, Wright would take Villanova to a pair of national championships in 2016 and 2018 as well as four trips to the Final Four. He built an unparalleled power in the new Big East before retiring in 2022 shortly after that fourth deep postseason run.

Now a studio analyst, Wright got out of coaching right around the time when the Transfer Portal and NIL were starting to become a big deal, so why would he jump back into that chaos? The money and mutual interest has to be right to make this happen, but a coach with this type of pedigree isn’t a dime a dozen and Indiana will certainly have interest. He made Villanova the kings of the Big East year after year, a statement very appealing to a Hoosiers program that isn’t exactly racking up Big Ten titles.

We’ve taken a look at seven potential home-run candidates if the Indiana job were to open up in the coming weeks. It’s important to remember that we are not advocating for Mike Woodson to lose his job, but noting that the Hoosiers are in a terrible position and a change could be on the horizon. Could Indiana pull any of these candidates if their job were to open up?