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B1G 2016 // New Man on Campus: Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen

Another year, another change designed to make the defense better.

New IU Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen (the one in the hat, in case you were wondering)
New IU Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen (the one in the hat, in case you were wondering)
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

After two years of the Brian Knorr Experience failing to liven up the Indiana defense, his contract was not renewed, and on January 15th the Hoosiers brought New Castle, Indiana native and IU alum Tom Allen home from South Florida to be the new defensive coordinator. This isn't his first coaching job in the state of Indiana, but the first time he will do so for a Division 1 college program; his previous stops were at Marion High School and Ben Davis, including three state titles while defensive coordinator at Ben Davis, as well as some time coaching the secondary and special teams at Wabash College.

Year School/Team Assignment
1992-94 Temple Heights High School (Fla.) Head Coach
1995-96 Armwood High School (Fla.) Defensive Coordinator
1997 Marion High School (Ind.) Defensive Coordinator
1998-2003 Ben Davis High School (Ind.) Defensive Coordinator
2004-06 Ben Davis High School (Ind.) Head Coach
2007 Wabash College Special Team Coordinator/Secondary Coach
2008-09 Lambuth Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2010 Drake Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach
2011 Arkansas State Assistant Head Coach
2012-14 Ole Miss Linebackers Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
2015 USF Defensive Coordinator

Allen has coached on the collegiate level at many other schools besides just the University of South Florida. Before USF, Allen coached under Hugh Freeze at Ole Miss and Arkansas State, and also spent a season at Drake. Almost all of his defenses have been very good at forcing turnovers, as well as tackles for loss, two things Indiana's defense could certainly get better at.

Best of luck to Coach Allen on making something great from this often suspect Indiana defense.