Jeff Goodman reveals names to watch if Indiana, Mike Woodson part ways

Nothing from Bloomington is official but the Mike Woodson era at Indiana appears to be over. The Field of 68‘s Jeff Goodman reported Woodson is “considering” retiring from basketball. Staying through the season is an option but somebody new is expected to be with the Hoosiers moving forward.

Discussions as to who should take over have begun, with Goodman revealing a few names to watch. But before going there, he ruled out three candidates who could be viewed as a dream scenario — Brad Stevens, Scott Drew, and Bruce Pearl. Goodman does not believe any of them would be willing to leave their current situation.

The conversation might begin with Chris Beard, someone finding a ton of success in his second season at Ole Miss. Beard was a former assistant of Bobby Knight and even quoted the legendary head coach in a recent game.

“The one that everybody’s gonna talk about the most is Chris Beard,” Goodman said. “Chris Beard, I believe – and I haven’t talked to him about it – but [he] would walk from Oxford, Mississippi to Bloomington, Indiana if you told him he could have the Indiana job. Obviously, there’s connections. He was an assistant for both the late Bob Knight, for Pat Knight.

“He and Pat were super close years ago, not as close now. There’s, obviously, off-the-court concerns with what got Chris Beard fired at Texas. He was cleared of those charges. But I just don’t know if Scott Dolson would take a chance on Chris Beard right now. I don’t know. So that’s a wild card. That’s a, ‘Who knows?'”

Two other high-major names for Indiana to look at

It’s no secret as to where the Indiana job ranks among college basketball, being one of the more historic programs out there. The Hoosiers are always going to swing big, looking to poach other power conference head coaches.

Goodman gave two more names, in addition to Beard, as to who IU could pursue. One comes from within the Big Ten while the other coach is in his first season in the SEC. There might even be a football connection Indiana could use to persuade him.

“Mick Cronin is a name that will certainly be mentioned. UCLA head coach who’s from the Midwest, did a great job at Cincinnati, kind of beats to his own drum. I think he could be in the mix, as well,” Goodman said.

“Mark Byington, if you go down to Tier 2 … was at JMU when Curt Cignetti was at JMU. They were the football and basketball coaches together. Byington is [in] his first year at [Vanderbilt], they were picked to finish last in the SEC and right now, they’re in the NCAA Tournament. So Byington would have to be a guy that would be, again, on that secondary list.”

Later on, Goodman mentioned Florida‘s Todd Golden but did not offer an opinion as to whether or not it would be a good fit. Grant McCasland of Texas Tech as well but Goodman does not “think he leaves Texas, so we can cross off him.”

Jeff Goodman speculates on potential mid-major names

To wrap up, Goodman did have two mid-major names for Indiana although, he does not believe Indiana will have to go this far down the list.

One is out on the West Coast but in the insider’s opinion, not the greatest of fits. Another is a Midwest head coach.

“Randy Bennett,” Goodman said. “Don’t love it. I just don’t think Randy’s personality fits Bloomington. I think you’ve got a sell in Bloomington, especially in this day and age of NIL, and Randy Bennett’s not a great marriage. I just don’t see it… The Ben McCollums at Drake, guys like that, I think would be in the mix.”