What new Indiana assistant coach Dane Fife during first media availability appearance

Dane Fife is returning to Indiana.

After spending a decade on Tom Izzo’s staff at Michigan State, Fife took a job on Mike Woodson’s staff at Indiana. It’s Fife’s return to Bloomington after playing under Bob Knight and Mike Davis from 1998-2002 at IU.

With Fife’s ties to the program, many believe the addition is a huge boost for the Hoosiers as they hope to re-establish themselves as a blueblood in college basketball. While there have been flashes at times under the Tom Crean and Archie Miller eras, Indiana has never had consistent success since Knight was terminated.

On Tuesday, Fife spoke with the media for the first time since taking a job on Woodson’s staff at Indiana. Here’s what the former Hoosier basketball star and new staffer had to say:

Dane Fife asked what he thinks needs to happen to get the Hoosiers back to greatness:

"That was an NCAA tournament team … I think it's a culture issue, not just with the program itself, but the fans, media, the entire state." #Iubb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 13, 2021

Fife talking about the IU media:

"It's your job to tell the good stories and make sure you know exactly what's going on instead of just writing a column and you know what's going on." #iubb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 13, 2021

Fife on Rob Phinisee:

"We have to get Rob Phinisee back to be an NBA-type defender … he's the leader up front, that's your first line of defense. If his mind is elsewhere, your defense is going to struggle." #iubb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 13, 2021

Fife with more on Phinisee:

"Stella got her groove back, we have to figure out how to get Rob Phinisee his groove back." #iubb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 13, 2021

Fife on Mike Woodson, who obviously has an adjustment coming from the NBA to college, and he's willing to listen.

"He doesn't have an ego. He should. But he doesn't." #iubb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 13, 2021

Fife says he felt bad for Archie Miller and his staff because of criticism of the program:

"I saw people picking, picking, and picking on our program, and it created a snowball." #iubb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 13, 2021

Fife talking about the boos last year's IU team experienced:

"It's OK to get upset, but what's going on now is pretty superficial and fair-weather-fan-ish." #iubb

— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) April 13, 2021