BLOOMINGTON, IN (LOOTPRESS) – After just one season at West Virginia, Darian DeVries has been named the new head coach of Indiana men’s basketball.
DeVries, who led the Mountaineers to a 19-win season, spoke about his brief tenure in Morgantown and the opportunity to take over a historic program like Indiana.
“One year ago, I took the West Virginia job because I felt it was a great fit for myself and my family,” DeVries said during his introductory press conference. “We were welcomed with open arms, and I’m beyond thankful for that experience.”
“Obviously my intention was to continue down that path and build on the progress that we made during this first year. However, the opportunity came along to possibly be the head coach at Indiana, a dream job for anyone, but especially for someone that grew up in the Midwest watching the old Big 8 and Big 10 basketball.”
DeVries inherited a struggling West Virginia team that had won just nine games the previous season.
Under his leadership, the Mountaineers nearly doubled their win total despite key injuries early in the year. His quick turnaround efforts and ability to develop players were among the factors that made him an attractive candidate for Indiana, according to the university.
At West Virginia, DeVries went 19-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big 12.
Athletic Director Scott Dolson noted that DeVries’ coaching style allegedly stood out long before he was officially considered for the position.
“I remember watching his West Virginia team play Gonzaga in the Bahamas, and I was really impressed with how they competed,” Dolson said.
Despite his success at West Virginia, DeVries said the opportunity to lead a program of Indiana’s stature was one he couldn’t pass up. “The chance to coach one of the biggest brands in college basketball was something I could not turn down,” he said.
Now, DeVries faces the challenge of rebuilding Indiana’s roster, just as he did at West Virginia.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t just assemble a collection of players—you have to build a team,” he said.
As he transitions to Indiana, DeVries says he brings with him the same process-driven mentality that helped him elevate West Virginia in a short time. “It starts and ends with work,” he said. “Now, our job is to make that happen here at Indiana.”
