Seth Davis hints at Brad Stevens as candidate if Indiana job opens in 2025

Evidently, Seth Davis isn’t ready for the coaching carousel to slow down. On Friday afternoon, the CBS Sports reporter claimed Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens may have interest in returning to the collegiate scene.

“With all the Billy Donovan chatter there is another former college coach in the NBA who should not be forgotten. Brad Stevens,” Davis wrote on X. “He’s an Indiana native. Perhaps if there’s a big job open in his native state next year…. Don’t rule it out. It’s more possible than you think.”

Stevens boasted massive success as the head coach at Butler from 2007-13. In the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Butler finished as national runner-ups. Since then, the program has failed to reach the Elite Eight. Worse, Butler has not made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.

Stevens is an Indiana boy to his core. He was born and raised in in Zionsville, Indiana. His father would often drive him to Bloomington to watch the Indiana Hoosiers play. Stevens replicated what he saw during pick-up games in his friends’ driveways.

Eventually, Stevens hard work paid off. In high school, Stevens set school records for career scoring, assists, steals and 3-point field goals. While Stevens did not have the athletic ability and size to reach the NBA, he understood the game on an intimate level.

Stevens has shown off that knowledge during his expansive career. In eight years as the Boston Celtics’ head coach, Stevens took the franchise to three Eastern Conference Finals. In Stevens’ first season as the organization’s president of basketball operations, the Celtics reached the NBA finals.

This isn’t the first time Stevens name has been tossed in the college coaching rumor mill. When Indiana fired Archie Miller in March of 2021, fans campaigned for Stevens to return home. While Stevens was flattered, he was quick to squash any rumors.

“I am not,” Stevens said about his potential return. “That’s nice of them. It really is… That’s home. I get it. I appreciate all the nice sentiments. It certainly doesn’t go unnoticed, and it’s certainly very kind.”

With the Boston Celtics primed for another deep playoff run, it’s difficult to imagine Stevens’ mind is anywhere but the NBA. Nonetheless, Davis claims it isn’t impossible.

Indiana’s current head coach, Mike Woodson, just finished his third season at the helm of the program. Indiana had a 19-14 record and 10-10 mark in conference play. The Hoosiers failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Woodson’s three seasons with the program.