Indiana Hires Davis as Head Coach
B L O O M I N G T O N, Ind., March 21, 2001 -- Mike Davis was named the head coach ofthe Indiana men's basketball program today, ending an emotionalseven months that began with Bob Knight's firing and ended withincessant speculation over Davis' ability to carry the storiedprogram into the future.
After two days of deliberations and a morning filled withcontract negotiations, Indiana University President Myles Brandupgraded Davis from interim coach to head coach of the Hoosiers,giving him a four-year contract.
"We don't name basketball coaches very often around here, andwhen we do we make sure that we make the right choice," Brand saidduring a news conference at Assembly Hall. "This season hasrevealed the character of Mike Davis. He and the team haverepresented the university very well indeed."
Many Changes for Hoosiers
Davis took over the Hoosiers on Sept. 12, two days after Brandfired Knight, the Hall of Fame coach who spent 29 seasons atIndiana.
Even then Davis knew he faced a daunting task. He began hisfirst head coaching job with a team that had only two returningstarters, three juniors and no seniors, while trying to replace aHall of Fame coach who won a school-record 661 games and threenational championships.
Davis also had to contend with the moniker of interim coach,which brought on a constant flurry of questions after every victoryand every loss.
He was held under a microscope as he made changes to Indianabasketball. The team's pre-season midnight practice had a notablydifferent atmosphere, including slam-dunk and three-point shootingcontests. Davis also included the Indiana women's basketball teamin the festivities.
The team even changed its shoes, moving from Converse to Nike.
New Direction for Program
But with all these changes and all the questions that surroundedhis interim title, Davis did better than most expected, leading theHoosiers to a 23-11 record and a second-place finish in the Big Tentournament.
After the Hoosiers lost in the first round of the NCAAtournament to Kent State, Davis thought his fate was still injeopardy. But apparently the job he did was enough to convince theuniversity that he's the person to take the program out of the BobKnight era.
"I plan to take this basketball team to the next level," Davissaid following the announcement. "I won't disappoint you with mycoaching ability or my behavior off the court."
Knight, who is being wooed to succeed fired Texas Tech men'sbasketball coach James Dickey, was fired last fall after he grabbeda student he considered disrespectful for addressing him by saying,"Hey, Knight." Indiana University officials said it was aviolation of a zero-tolerance behavior policy set for the volatilecoach.
Knight, 60, spent three days last week on the Texas Tech campusand said he finds the situation "very appealing."
Davis said he has not spoken with Knight about being named theHoosiers coach.