It’s not too often you hear of successful NFL coaches looking for a move back to the college ranks. That was the case for Deland McCullough, though. After seeing what Indiana had done under head coach Tom Allen the past four seasons, the Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach wanted a chance to return.

On Tuesday, McCullough spoke with the media regarding his return to Bloomington. He had previously been IU’s running backs coach from 2011-16 under then-head coach Kevin Wilson and worked with Allen for one year, when Allen was the team’s defensive coordinator.

When McCullough heard that Mike Hart was leaving the Hoosiers for Michigan, he expressed interest in the job. Allen wasn’t the one reaching out, either, McCullough did that on his own.

McCullough’s interest in a return to Bloomington speaks volumes to what Allen has built at Indiana. Not only was McCullough successful in the NFL, he was on the staff of a team that had won last year’s Super Bowl and reached the pinnacle of the sport again this year.

But the running backs coach wanted a chance to return to Indiana and be a member of a staff that is doing special things in the B1G. And it proves just how recognizable the Hoosiers have become under Allen.