Before joining Indiana University, Darian DeVries had successful stints at Drake University and West Virginia, where he built a strong reputation for turning programs quickly. Now, he’s ready to carry that same torch as the head coach of the Hoosiers.
He’s not someone who cares about dramatic speeches or flashy displays—and that’s precisely why people respect him. Indiana fans are happy knowing their team is in good hands.
DeVries grew up watching Indiana basketball during its golden era, which has given him a deep respect for the program. He believes that childhood connection gives him a personal drive that will help lead the team on the right path toward NCAA success.
Darian DeVries Opens Up About His Childhood Bond with Indiana Basketball
DeVries has already made headlines since taking over the Hoosiers’ program. What most people admire about him is his personal connection to Indiana basketball, which dates back to his childhood. However, it’s not just the community that holds that belief—the 50-year-old head coach also carries it close to his heart.
“Yeah, I grew up in Iowa, so you grew up in Big 10, old Big 8. That’s certainly a lot of familiarity with Indiana basketball and the tradition that they had,” DeVries said in a recent discussion on the “CBS Sports college basketball” podcast. “And certainly at one of the peaks of the program during that time as I was growing up. So that’s why it’s just one of those jobs that just resonates a little bit differently for me.”
DeVries has proven himself to be a successful head coach. At Drake University, he won 169 games and lost only 68. He helped the team reach the NCAA Tournament three times. Plus, his teams won at least 20 games six years in a row. Then, he took charge at West Virginia for one season. There, he led the team to 19 wins, more than double their previous season’s nine wins.
Darian DeVries enjoyed his one year at West Virginia, but he just felt that Indiana was an opportunity that he couldn’t pass up. pic.twitter.com/CZvN1PfuCp
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 12, 2025
“I think you’re trying to do both simultaneously. The biggest thing is you’re trying to build a team for that first year,” he explained. “With the portal now, the biggest thing that my staff and I, we didn’t want a collection of individuals. We wanted to kind of put a team together that could function together, play together, complement one another.”
KEEP READING: How Indiana’s Booster Network Benefits New Coach Darian DeVries
Nobody can point fingers at his coaching philosophy. In 2021, his approach guided Drake to its first NCAA Tournament win in 50 years, which shows that he knows how to build sustainable success from the ground up.
His strong childhood connection with the Hoosiers gives us more hope. Whether that connection leads to NCAA success remains to be seen, but the foundation is already taking shape.
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