One-on-one with IU men’s basketball coach Darian DeVries
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — News 8 sports director Anthony Calhoun went one-on-one with the newly hired IU men’s basketball head coach Darian DeVries.
Anthony Calhoun: “This is a dream job for so many coaches. What was it about this opportunity here at IU that made you want to be the coach of the Hoosiers?”
Darian DeVries: “I think everybody that’s a fan of basketball understands what Indiana basketball means. You stand in this building (Assembly Hall), you understand what it means. So I can’t be more excited to get started and looking forward to this journey together.”
Calhoun: “Hearing (IU athletic director) Scott Dolson talk about you, he mentioned words like ‘he’s a basketball guy.’ Is that was IU fans are going to see when they see you as a coach?”
DeVries: “When you watch us play, it’s not something we can talk about and convince people what we are. I want them to show up and go like, they see for themselves, and wow, how hard they play. Wow, how unselfish are they. How much enthusiasm they play with. And those are things that are important to us.”
Calhoun: “When you look at Indiana, a lot of people will say the luxury of this job. You know you’re going to have the backing from the administration. You know you’re going to have the financial support when it comes to NIL. What does it do for you as a coach to know that those are things you don’t have to worry about and can really focus in on your coaching?”
DeVries: “I think the critical piece in that is the resources are awesome if you utilize them properly, and that’s the number one thing we’ll be thinking about as we continue to put a roster together. And then after that, we got to be great at what matters and winning basketball. And those are the things that from day one we’ll put into our guys and instill in them and the buy in is always critical and if they’ll be willing to buy into those things, hopefully that means a lot of wins.”
Calhoun: “I love what you said about the fans, how you welcome them being involved with your program. How nice is it to have these folks in here support you every game, that you know they’re going to show up for you guys and the Hoosiers?
DeVries: “I love it. You have to have a fanbase that’s passionate. A home court advantage is so critical in this game, especially in the Big Ten. When you have a fanbase that cares, you’d much rather have that every day of the week and we certainly have that.”
Calhoun: “After spending so much time on the hardwood, coaching on the sidelines, to be at a dream job, even though it’s early on, do you think about that?”
DeVries: “I think at some point we will, but right now my focus is on what we got to do to make this where we believe it all can be and that’s going to be a priority for every second that I’m here and that’s what I’m excited about, seeing what this can grow into again.”
Calhoun: “This job is not made for anybody. It takes the right person to have this type of position, knowing how the fanbase is and knowing the history, these banners right behind us. What is it about you that that makes you believe that you’re fit for this job at IU?”
DeVries: “I think it’s a great fit for me from a community standpoint. I can’t wait to get integrated within the community, get my family integrated in the community. And then more importantly, I just think the blue-collar, the working, the way our teams are going to play, I think our fans are really going to embrace.”
DeVries comes to Indiana after spending one season at West Virginia, where his team just missed the NCAA Tournament. Before West Virginia, DeVries was at Drake for six season, where he made the NCAA Tournament in three of his last four years.
More IU basketball coverage
IU’s administration details why Darian DeVries was chosen as head coach
Indiana hires West Virginia’s Darian DeVries as new head coach
