In short, probably.
With the Indiana men’s basketball coaching job reportedly set to open, you’re bound to hear a rush of candidates’ names with one in particular at the top of just about every list:
Brad Stevens.
The former Butler coach and current President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics has been the apple of Indiana’s eye for well over a decade now. His name comes up every single time the job his open, without fail, and he’s been forced to debunk rumors every time it’s happened.
Stevens’ name came up in 2017 before the program eventually hired Archie Miller and again in 2021 before the program hired Mike Woodson. Stevens was asked about the Indiana job a few times during the latter search, saying the following.
“That place drove my passion for basketball,” Stevens said. “For me growing up, it was certainly IU. It’s flattering, but I also realize I’m the coach of the Celtics and it’s been an amazing challenge and opportunity the last eight years.”
“That’s nice of them,” Stevens said. ”That really is. Listen, that’s home. I get it. I appreciate all the nice sentiments. It certainly doesn’t go unnoticed and it’s certainly very kind.”
The attention and Stevens’ ultimate statement that he wouldn’t be taking the job drew reactions from across sports media, with now-former ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski sharing the following sentiment:
It’s incredible Brad Stevens has to even spell this out for people. No one is leaving a head coaching job in the NBA for college anymore. Not the Celtics. Not the Kings. Not anyone, anywhere. Nobody is returning to college unless they’re no longer welcome to stay in pros.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 19, 2021
Indiana would be in position to make Stevens one of the highest paid coaches in men’s college basketball and arm him with an NIL war chest that would be the envy of all but a handful of other programs around the sport.
It would be an opportunity for Stevens to return to his home state and bring the program he grew up cheering for back to national prominence.
But,
Stevens is an NBA general manager. He doesn’t have to worry about the day-to-day of coaching anymore and is coming off of his first career NBA championship in any capacity with a team in strong position to contend for another this year with one of the best cores in the association.
On top of that, he’s certainly well compensated in Boston. It’s been his home now for well over a decade. That’s a lot to leave behind.
Going from managing contracts and personnel for adults to recruiting high schoolers and transfer portal prospects, on top of coaching that talent, is probably a bit of a tough sell.
Still, Stevens is among the best minds in the sport and he’d be in a very strong position to succeed in Bloomington. Indiana should, and likely will, at the very least test the waters here to gauge interest.
The job’s open. May as well chase that big fish.