Who should be the next head coach of Indiana basketball? According to one head coach, the option is a ‘No Brainer’

Indiana basketball is in full head coaching search season with the impending result of Mike Woodson stepping down as the leader of the program at the conclusion of the year.

Since the announcement two weeks ago, many fans and media alike have thrown out multiple names that could wind up becoming the next head coach of the Indiana basketball program. Names from Brad Stevens, to Dusty May, to Mick Cronin, and so on and so on have been on the hot board as potential options.

There has been one name that has also floated out there as one of the more realistic options given his status. That coach? Current Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard.

Beard has been a name that has popped up on a lot of Indiana fan’s wishlist as head coach of the program, even given his controversial off the court issues that led to him being fired by Texas.

Indiana fans are not the only advocate for Beard being head coach of the Hoosiers. Legendary head coach and current head coach of St. Johns Rick Pitino, who is also somewhat on the Indiana basketball hot board, expressed the desire on Barstool’s Pardon My Take wanting to see Indiana choose to hire Beard.

“If I was the AD at Indiana I would immediately not even interview anybody else and hire one of the premiere coaches in all of college basketball and that’s Chris Beard,” Rick Pitino said Pardon My Take on Friday. “I wouldn’t even think about another person he’s perfect for that job.”

Beard is for sure a candidate to become Indiana’s next head coach potentially, however it is hard to imagine the Hoosiers going that route given Beard’s off the court past even though he has proven to be a top head coach in the country. Right now, he has Ole Miss as one of the top teams in the SEC and is on track to lead them into this year’s NCAA Tournament.

Regardless of what happens, it is going to be a very busy next month as Indiana searches for their next head coach of the program.

Below is the full clip of Pitino’s thoughts on the Indiana basketball head coaching search.

Chris Beard is a “no-brainer” for the vacant #IUBB head coaching job this summer, per Rick Pitino

Thoughts? @PardonMyTake

pic.twitter.com/S8Q7zkYrFZ

— Barstool IU (@IUBarstool) February 21, 2025

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