For Mike Woodson, Indiana is home and where it all began. So it only makes sense that he’s returning.
Woodson, 63, is leaving his assistant job with Tom Thibodeau and the New York Knicks to become a college head coach for the first time. He has been head coach with both the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks, and a longtime NBA assistant. But this is his first stop in college coaching.
He appreciates the idea of Hoosier Hysteria, having starred at Broad Ripple High School, and then IU, before embarking on a lengthy NBA career as an always underrated shooting guard.
Now, he’s back home, with what reports say is a six-year contract.
“We know it is a very special opportunity for Mike to return to his alma mater as head coach and wish him the very best,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. “Woody had a great impact on our team’s play and culture this season and he will be missed.”
Woodson becomes the the third minority coach in Indiana history — joining Mike Davis, who is also black, and Kelvin Sampson, a native American and the current coach at the University of Houston.
Indiana basketball has fallen on hard times after being a regular national title contender. Earlier this month, the Hoosiers fired Archie Miller after four seasons.
Along with Woodson, they also pursued Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics and Chris Holtmann of Ohio State. Stevens is another Indiana product who once led Butler University to two straight appearances in the NCAA championship game.
Woodson remains the fifth-leading scorer in IU history.
