B1G 2020 // Indiana Coaching Changes for 2020

This season should probably not be happening, and definitely not before spring if it must occur, but we’re gonna keep pretending that it will until it doesn’t. Moving right along...

I mentioned yesterday that the Hoosiers returned a lot of production, on both offense on defense. Turns out that the chaotic shuffling (comparatively) was occurring in the coaching staff. We knew that Kalen DeBoer would be gone after the bowl game, but beyond filling his highly successful shoes, Tom Allen also made a few other additions, as well as moving some coaches into different roles.

You Seem Familiar...

The first and foremost change, simply because it’s the most impressive title, belongs to Mike Hart. Yes, that Mike Hart in the picture up there. Continuing in his 4th year as running backs coach, Hart has also ascended from assistant head coach to associate head coach. What that actually means for his role is not entirely clear at this point, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising if this promotion was similar to the “coach-in-waiting” tag that sometimes gets applied to keep highly touted coaches from testing the waters. More on this as I find literally anything about it; the move was officially announced in January and since then, nothing.

Up next, a double promotion. Stepping into Kalen DeBoer’s OC shoes will be Grant Heard (formerly the passing game coordinator and will continue as wide receivers coach) and Nick Sheridan (was tight ends coach; will also be the quarterbacks coach in addition to his OC duties). Both men enter their 4th year on the Hoosier staff.

Finally, and for this site perhaps most relevantly, Kasey Teegardin has assumed the mantle of Special Teams Coordinator. In addition, he will also work with the HUSKY position, the hybrid linebacker/safety/cornerback spot frequently occupied by Marcelino Ball for the Hoosiers, after having worked exclusively with the safeties for the past two years.

And naturally, with these promotions, some vacancies had to be filled as well.

Next Men Up

Since we just talked about Teegardin leaving the safeties, let’s being this section with his replacement. Jason Jones comes to the Hoosiers by way of Florida Atlantic University. Prior to his year at FAU, Jones worked at Ole Miss, which included two years with then-Rebels coach Tom Allen, and before that he coached the cornerbacks at Oklahoma State.

Filling Nick Sheridan’s spot as tight ends coach will be Kevin Wright. He joins the Hoosiers after a 5 year run as the head coach of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Wright is a well-known name in Indiana football, both due to his own success as head coach at Warren Central and Carmel High Schools, and due to being one of the sons of legendary Indiana high school football coach Bud Wright, who has led Sheridan High School to 9 state titles in the state’s smallest division.

One spot vacated due to a promotion that was not internal is that of new Texas defensive line and associate head coach for defense Mark Hagen. His defensive line coach position in Bloomington will be filled by Kevin Peoples, coming in after 4 seasons as Tulane’s defensive line coach and 27 years in coaching in total.

The last notable change for 2020 is the ol’ S&C coach. David Ballou was hired away by Alabama, so of course the Hoosiers had to poach from a program almost as well regarded as Bama to fill the vacancy. Officially titled “Senior Assistant Athletic Director for Football Performance,” Aaron Wellman joins the Indiana staff following four years with some team called the New York Giants. He also has prior experience with Michigan, San Diego State, Ball State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and even a couple of years on Cam Cameron’s staff at IU around the turn of the millennium.

B1G 2020 Schedule

Monday: The Preview

Tuesday: What’s New on the Coaching Tree (see above)

Wednesday: A Mike Penix Appreciation Post

Thursday: TBD

Friday: A Non-Zero Amount of Purdue Hate

All Week: Potlucks