Why Darian DeVries’ Bold Focus on Student Outreach Could Change Indiana Basketball Forever

All it takes for them is a single glance upward into the building’s rafters to understand that the standard was far, far higher for previous classes. That’s been true for multiple graduating classes these past two decades. Coaches with different personalities and temperaments have come and gone, none having brought the program back to the top of the college basketball landscape.

He’s not about to start making headlines or giving out viral quotes like Curt Cignetti, but he’s getting along just fine with a firm handshake, a helping hand and a kind “hello.” That’s all he needs for now.

Recently that effort has been concentrated to the student body, which will need an introduction to Indiana’s new coach more than most alumni and fans around the state. Plenty of those older fans remember Indiana winning championships under Bob Knight, reaching the 2002 Final Four and winning the Big Ten twice under Tom Crean.

That’s at the top of DeVries’ to-do list as Indiana’s head coach. But he’s taking the extra step of making that first impression. One of the main points brought against him when he was hired, albeit not forcefully, was that he lacked the sort of big personality or presence that an environment like Indiana supposedly calls for.

Indiana boasts the largest student section in the country at Assembly Hall. Any seniors in it for the 2025-26 season have only seen the Hoosiers earn a single NCAA Tournament bid during their academic career. As freshmen. What these students have been treated to is one year as a top-16 seed followed by nearly disastrous games against lesser competition and plenty of blowouts against Big Ten foes.

DeVries is going to be one of the most photographed, widely followed and scrutinized public figures in the state for the duration of his tenure in Bloomington. People are going to know who he is, he doesn’t have to introduce himself like this. But he does.

There’s a few head coaching jobs around college athletics that are akin to being a head of state. Coaches aren’t just expected to show up in their arena on gameday, they’re supposed to be personable, communicative public figures like candidates for elected office.

Introducing himself to every fan at an arena in Puerto Rico. Helping freshmen move into dorms. Addressing the crowd at the annual Traditions and Spirit rally. Meeting fans on Kirkwood Avenue at Homefield Apparel’s new brick-and-mortar location at Tracks.

Darian DeVries isn’t just walking into Indiana men’s basketball as the new coach – he’s diving headfirst into a role that’s part strategist, part community ambassador, and all about rekindling a passion long dimmed. From shaking hands with fans in Puerto Rico to lending a hand helping freshmen settle into dorm life, DeVries is making sure Hoosier Nation knows he’s here for more than just game days. Sure, any new coach would hit the pavement, but few take this level of personal initiative in a position that’s as much about public presence as it is about X’s and O’s. Indiana basketball isn’t merely a program; it’s a cultural icon, with expectations that weigh heavy—think programs like Kentucky, Alabama, or North Carolina. And DeVries knows what’s at stake. He’s becoming one of the most visible figures in the state, not because he has to, but because he wants to—building bridges, especially with a student body that’s seen fewer hardcourt highs than the legends that came before. In a sea of voices clamoring for attention, his quiet yet deliberate approach might just be exactly what Indiana needs to reignite that long-lost roar. LEARN MORE

The students heading to Bloomington for the first time this month have only been alive for those two Crean titles. That speaks to the program’s overall decline over the previous two decades and the need for DeVries to establish himself with them.

Darian DeVries, Indiana’s men’s basketball coach, has been taking selfies, shaking hands and saying hello to the Hoosiers’ fanbase just about everywhere these past few weeks. It makes sense, a new coach would be wise to be present in the community, but DeVries hasn’t taken just any job.

This is true of programs like Kentucky men’s basketball, Alabama football, Nebraska football, North Carolina men’s basketball and Indiana men’s basketball.