Indiana and head coach Mike Woodson are indeed parting ways following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

The idea of Woodson’s departure was reported on Thursday. According to that report from Jeff Goodman, Woodson was considering retirement with the Hoosiers falling off the NCAA Tournament bubble after losing 6 of their last 7 games. It was also reported that Woodson lost the support of some “high-level boosters” in Bloomington.

On Friday, it was confirmed via a statement from AD Scott Dolson that Woodson will indeed not return to Indiana following the end of the season. Dolson claims Woodson informed the AD of his desire to step down on Wednesday and as a matter that was “weighing on (Woodson’s) mind” this season.

With the decision made, Dolson hopes Indiana fans and Hoosier nation will rally around the program down the stretch:

During a meeting with Coach Woodson on Wednesday, he informed me he wanted to step down as our program’s head coach at the end of the current season. He said it had been weighing on his mind for a while, and that it was an emotional and difficult decision. We have had subsequent thoughtful conversations about his decision and his desire to ensure that the program is in the best position it can be moving forward. At an appropriate time, Coach Woodson will articulate his feelings about his decision and his experiences these last four years.

It’s clear to me from our discussions in the last several days that his No. 1 priority is for the attention to be off him, and instead focused on uniting Hoosier Nation in support of our student-athletes, coaches, and, most importantly, the program. We still have much to play for this season as we prepare for Saturday’s game against Michigan and the remainder of the 2024-25 season, and we want to encourage Hoosier fans to rally around the program and support it in the same positive way that Hoosier fans did during Mike’s All-America and Big Ten MVP playing career.

Coach Woodson is a class act. During the last four years, he has led the program during a transformational time in college athletics and helped us become a national leader in evolving areas including NIL and the Transfer Portal. No one loves IU Basketball more than he does. I want to thank him for coming back to Bloomington and accepting the challenge of rebuilding our program and re-connecting it with its past and its foundation. In pursuit of that goal, it was important to him that he bring back other legendary Hoosier players such as Calbert Cheaney, Randy Wittman, and Jordan Hulls, all of whom share his love and passion for this program. That’s a group of individuals that combined for 375 wins at IU, seven Big Ten championships, two Final Fours, and a national title.

With this decision made, Coach Woodson and I share the desire to see Hoosier Nation unite beginning on Saturday afternoon in support of these players, coaches, and program.

If the season ended today, Indiana is projected to miss the NCAA Tournament for a 2nd straight season while losing 6 of its last 7 games. There are 8 games and the Big Ten Tournament left to try and turn things around, but it is far from an easy road.

Woodson’s return to Bloomington started off hot with back-to-back trips to the Big Dance and seasons with 20+ wins, including a final ranking in the AP Top 25 in 2023. Unfortunately, Indiana missed March Madness last year and is on pace to be on the outside looking in after previously being ranked No. 14 in the country per the AP Poll.

(H/T Inside the Hall)