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What Indiana AD Scott Dolson said during Monday presser following Archie Miller’s firing
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Big news came out of Bloomington on Monday, when Indiana announced it has fired head basketball coach Archie Miller after four seasons.
Indiana ended the 2020-21 season with a 12-15 record, missing the NCAA Tournament and the NIT. In his four seasons as head coach Miller’s teams made just one postseason appearance, a 2019 trip to the NIT. Miller’s teams also never had a winning record in B1G play in four years.
At one time, IU seemed destined to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers were sitting at 12-9 in mid-February and appeared to be in complete control of making the postseason. But Miller’s team collapsed down the stretch, losing its final six games to finish 12-15.
On Monday, athletic director Scott Dolson met with the media to talk about his decision to move on from Miller and begin a search for a new head coach. Here’s what he had to say:
Scott Dolson says "respect I have for Archie made it more difficult" to make this call. #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
Dolson says booster recommendations had "zero impact" on his final decision. Says he worked through the decision himself before going to donor. #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
Two donors, neither of whom Dolson will name, will underwrite the bulk of this through donations. #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
Says it was not a booster push to remove Archie Miller, but Dolson's decision.
"It was not an anti-Archie effort."
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
Dolson's audio is curring in and out but he said just now he wants a coach who will build IU forward, so program "doesn't live in the past but can build on it." #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
Dolson does not plan to employ a search firm. Already announced he wouldn't have a committee. #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
Dolson on hiring someone with strong IU ties: "I really don't want to exclude anyone. I want to make sure it's an open process and evaluate all the candidates who are out there and might be a perfect fit." #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
This is quietly important. On preferred style of play:
"It's a style of play recruits want to play in … and also is really on the cutting edge of where is basketball going?" #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
Dolson: "I don't want to micromanage the program and say we have this type of style or that type."
Wants a coach with whom he can work to build appealing brand. #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) March 15, 2021
"I think that this is an opportunity for someone to come in and really have some wind behind their back."
— Scott Dolson, on @IndianaMBB coaching position pic.twitter.com/qffiVDbqKu
— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) March 15, 2021
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB