Could Mike Woodson Be Leading Candidate For Indiana Job?

Brad Stevens said he's happy coaching the Boston Celtics. Nevada coach and former Indiana star Steve Alford reportedly isn't a fit. And ex-Michigan coach John Beilein is 68-years-old and has a cushy television gig.

So who may be the leading candidate for the Indiana coaching vacancy?

Well, the quick answer is Mike Woodson, a former member of the Hoosiers who has coached in the NBA. Woodson is currently an assistant under Tom Thibodeau with the New York Knicks.

He has been the head coach of the Knicks and Atlanta Hawks and an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and, of course, the Knicks.

So Woodson has spent time in the college game only as a player. But that was at Indiana from 1976-80, which means he played for the legendary Bob Knight and alongside Hall of Fame point guard Isiah Thomas.

Woodsen was no slouch himself. He led the Hoosiers in scoring his junior season and went on to be a regular starter in the NBA. So he has all the credentials, and some fans are excited about the possibility of Woodson as the next Hoosiers coach.

And according to Rick Bozich of WDRB-TV, Woodson may indeed be a real possibility, as is former Ohio State coach Thad Matta.

"Other names who are believed to be under consideration are Texas Tech coach Chris Beard; former Michigan coach John Beilein; Pacers assistant coach Calbert Cheaney; Baylor coach Scott Drew; Eric Musselman of Arkansas and Michigan State assistant coach Dane Fife, a former IU player," Bozich wrote.

Written by
Sam Amico spent 15 years covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated, FOX Sports and NBA.com, along with a few other spots, and currently runs his own basketball website on the side, FortyEightMinutes.com.