The administration at Indiana University just wasn’t satisfied.

In 2008, the storied basketball program was in complete shambles. Former head coach Kelvin Sampson had abruptly resigned just two months earlier amidst rumors of NCAA recruiting violations, and former player Dan Dakick had guided the team over the last two months.

With NCAA sanctions looming, the Hoosiers hired Marquette head coach Tom Crean in April of 2008. The hope was that Crean would bring Indiana out of the dark period and back to national prominence.

After three consecutive seasons in which Indiana posted a combined record of 28-66, the program reached the Sweet Sixteen three times in five seasons. However, after a disappointing 2016-’17 season that saw Indiana miss out on the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three years, Indiana decided in was time to look for a new head basketball coach.

Indiana Director of Athletics Fred Glass cited the university’s desire to “seek more consistent, high levels of success,” as the reason for Crean’s removal.

Enter former Dayton head coach, Archie Miller.

-Miller’s Coaching History .

Archie Miller brings a coaching resume filled with consistent and high success to Indiana. In six seasons at Dayton, Miller accumulated the following:

• 139-63 overall record
• Back to back Atlantic 10 regular season championships (2016, 2017)
• Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year (2017)
• Elite Eight (2014)

Miller turned Dayton into an annual NCAA Tournament qualifier with a strong defensive identity. Similar to Miller himself as a player, the Flyers always brought a strong intensity and passion to both ends of the floor.

It is this defensive identity that made Miller such an attractive candidate to the Hoosiers. This season, Indiana ranked 105th among all Division I teams in Adjusted-Defensive Efficiency (AdjD) as per KenPom. Dayton’s AdjD the last three years? 31st, 15th, and 41st.

-Tireless Recruiter.

Having strong basketball success at a small school in Ohio is not easy. Dayton has roughly 12,000 students, and Miller has a well-deserved reputation of doing more with less.

Indiana boasts almost 50,000 students and provides state of the art facilities and resources. The head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers has always been one of the most coveted jobs in all of college basketball. Miller will inherit a program that has always shown the ability to recruit four and five star caliber players.

With Miller’s work ethic, connections, and blueprint for success at a smaller school, he will absolutely be able to continue attract basketball talent from across the country. One of Crean’s best characteristics was his recruiting ability. Miller is his equal, if not better.

-Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree .

Indiana fans should also gain confidence from the Miller coaching family tree. Miller’s brother Sean coached for five years at Xavier before making the jump to a national powerhouse at Arizona. After also cutting his coaching teeth in Ohio, Miller has solidified his reputation as one of the best coaches in the country, achieving a 220-66 record in eight seasons for the Wildcats.

Archie Miller brings the exact same qualities to Indiana. There is every reason to believe he can recruit even better than he did at Dayton, while also bringing the reputation as a brilliant game tactician and exceptional defensive coach.

And the genetic connection doesn’t hurt one bit either.

Overall

With a busy NCAA basketball coaching carousel going around the past month, Hoosier fans should be thrilled with Indiana’s choice of Archie Miller. He is a smart tactician, tireless worker, and has consistently produced under much more difficult circumstances.

Indiana has shown their belief in Miller with a robust and long-term contract, and there is every reason to belief that Miller will reward the Hoosiers with exactly the type of consistent and high levels of annual success they have come to expect.