Now we know just how much IU coveted Stevens.. After its regular week-long, non-televised celebrations, the annual awards ceremony concluded with its main ceremony on Saturday night. "I could have stayed in the NBA, I've lived over half my life in the NBA. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler). "A week later, we'd had some communications within that week. So thats what we did, I helped him find his voice.. Woodson then earned the head coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks, followed by New York Knicks. You have permission to edit this article. Because I know coaching is hard. Because coaching is hard. It's a secretary role, but one that is critical in keeping the men's basketball office functioning. After five games, Woodson suffered a herniated disc in his back and had to undergo surgery. So he didnt know what he could do (academically). I'm not selling anything else. A widely-touted "players' coach" dating back to his NBA days, Woodson seemingly knew the right buttons to press at each turn, even if it took longer than some might've hoped. And that House was telling the story of Woodson finding his voice on a radio show named after him wasnt lost on her. It's all good.". DOYEL: What kind of season is acceptable in Year 1? 9 min read. It was already set when I came to Indiana University. And maybe I was nave and foolish to even go into Atlanta, knowing that we had gutted the whole team and started over with 18-, 19- and 20-year-old kids. Who is Mike Woodson? "So I had to do some damage control I had to start setting up meetings with the parents and the players. But it lives on forever now thanks to the efforts of his family . BLOOMINGTON - IU expects head coach Mike Woodson to be on the bench for Saturday's visit from Ohio State, after Woodson missed the Hoosiers' Wednesday win at Minnesota while recovering from COVID. "So the interview really wasn't an interview (in 2017) as far as I was concerned. With Houses help, Woodson became the first person in his family to earn a college degree. Its nice.. Storms arrive late. Scott freed me up to be able to do what I do from a coaching standpoint. "Yes, I've got a lot of big shoes to fill and I'm up for the challenge. Because, again, I've never recruited at the college level, but I've recruited at the NBA level. I'm new at this. We've got to try to win a national title because that's what it's all about. "That's important. Its a secretary role, but one that is critical in keeping the mens basketball office functioning. He also averaged 12.2 points in 13 career Playoff games over five post-seasons. Hey Woody, we can play golf every day, Fitzsimmons said. As an assistant, he has worked for greats such as Chris Ford (Bucks), George Karl (Bucks), Larry Brown (76ers and Pistons), Mike DAntoni (Knicks), Doc Rivers (Clippers), and Tom Thibodeau (Knicks). I'm living in an apartment. He pushed me and he put me in the best position to be successful. Yes, I had to do my homework and due diligence on the player. Friday's invite-only (and non-televised) awards dinner will go on as scheduled from L.A. Live Event Deck, a popular event venue located . Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He continued on with his coaching cliches, telling his players to take it one game at a time. All he wanted to do, he said, was beat Eastern Michigan. He, Gayle (Cook's wife) and Carl, his son, all these years, about 40 years, I've had a relationship with that family. "They should never be closed out because this program was built around a lot of great players who have played here. "And my staff that I rave about and will continue to rave about has put me in position to get on the phone and do Zooms with these parents and players. WOODSON: "That we're all going to be back as a family. He'd come home to Bloomington, he figured, and work alongside his friend Scott May at a real. "If they're able to do what they're supposed to do, on and off the floor, then I've got to think moving forward they're going to be pretty successful in their lives as they leave Indiana University and go on in other directions and other areas of their lives.". 3 University of Kansas on Dec. 17. (AF), Big cities, big fun. Late in the second half of a game against Michigan State on Saturday, McCaffery stared down Big Ten official Kelly Pfeifer for at least 20 seconds soon after receiving a technical foul. Indiana basketball's Mike Woodson talks family, Hoosiers' struggles, Bob Knight, apartment living, BOZICH | How Mike Woodson kept Trayce Jackson-Davis at IU, BOZICH | Fife will help Woodson put the Indiana back in Indiana basketball, BOZICH | Larry Brown explains why Mike Woodson is right coach for Indiana -- and their future, BOZICH | With Jackson-Davis returning, Woodson won his first week at Indiana, BOZICH | Rewards outweigh risks as Mike Woodson takes over Indiana basketball, BOZICH | Former Hoosiers star Mike Woodson named Indiana basketball coach, WDRB FCC Applications & Related Materials. I couldn't sell it no other way when I went to Atlanta. Most kids start very young. In 1991, after playing a decade in the NBA, Woodson was content with stepping away from the game. That component hasn't and won't be overlooked by Woodson. Zach Osterman, Indianapolis Star. 1 in the preseason of the 1979-80 campaign. It was just a full meltdown of our defensive game plan, Jackson-Davis said. We've got to win the Big Ten. How do you plan to do that? I don't need much. The athletic department said Friday in a news release that Woodson . Now,. CLASS 4A: Munster: Munster: 61: Merrillville: 55: Lake Central: 70: East Chicago Central: 55: Crown Point: Hobart: 55: Kankakee Valley: 44: Valparaiso: 62: Lowell: 26 . She created and maintained an athletics database to facilitate eligibility, financial aid, and NCAA/Big Ten federal reporting including graduation rates. The former NBA player and current coach owns this property. Copyright 2021 WDRB Media. I was the head coach in (Atlanta). "There's a lot of great college coaches, I mean, there's no cupcakes in the Big Ten, there's just not. (AF) (Footnote, "Goodfellas", "There's like 40 people on the conference call at my first press conference, so I asked my assistant to go out and pick up all the newspapers around the state so I could read them all. "This time I thought the timing was perfect, even though I was in a contract year and had some years on my contract with the Knicks (as an assistant), not even knowing if they would let me out of my deal. There was the miraculous 17-point comeback win over Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. "I'm really back now, and that means a great deal to me," Woodson said. "I've spent my life here. while Jackson-Davis could have celebrated after finishing the game with 2,081 points 20 more than Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson scored during his college career it was the second-year coach who seemed . A lot of the fans who have rooted all these years for these great players, hey, they all they know. Mike Woodson isn't a stranger to Indiana or Bloomington, that much was clear when he took the Hoosiers head coaching gig last spring. Houses area of focus at that time was language education, and her job at the time among other things was to help the hyper-focused Woodson blossom into a communicator. "I'm hoping and praying that I'm putting the right pieces in place. Reasonable Rabby vs The Hoosier Hysterics. I'm trying to win the national title. Jackson-Davis ninth rebound made him the schools career leader in that category ahead of Alan Henderson. "My ties have always been in Bloomington. I went in there selling playoffs. "The Knicks called. Everybody is bragging about their program. Hosted by Grammy . They came in here and kicked our ass, it was just that simple.. Wayne was a sophomore at Arlington (High) and he was the leading scorer in the city. Woodson did not . He was 13 when his father died. House was Woodson's tutor at Indiana during his playing days, and with her help he became the first person from his family to earn a college degree. When I got the call about IU when it opened up, I was gung ho about pursuing it and I was hoping like hell I got the opportunity to come back.". He doesn't understand why all sorts of people in Bloomington were asking if Coach Knight threw him a chair. Against crazy odds, they have all but assuredly secured themselves a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.. I had to tell them what was on my heart and how I felt, about the individual player, as a player and how I thought that player could help us from a team standpoint. When Tuesday finally came, Woodson kept the same composure. 5 University of Arizona on Dec. 10, and thought his team wasn't tough enough in a loss to Rutgers on Dec. 3. "You don't want to lose any player. After Crean was fired in 2017, though, Woodson put his name into consideration. "They liked that and they were able to commit to us. Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 26 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and had five assists for the Hoosiers (20-10, 11-8 Big Ten), but Kris Murray scored 26 points for Iowa (19-11, 11-8) and the visitors shot 56% from the field. I'm concerned about what you can't do and how you can get better to help us win basketball games and better yourself for the future. A relationship that began in 1976 whenMike Woodsonfirst came to the IU campus will be rekindled as Anitra House will assume the role of Assistant to the Head Coach for the mens basketball program. During his coaching career, Woodson would quietly come back to Bloomington whenever he could. "I was like, 'Take me to the court.' BOZICH: There's been a lot of discussion about the re-branding of Indiana basketball. WOODSON: "I don't know if IU has ever lost its brand. Didn't get it. "Again, I didn't get an opportunity to really come back because my schedule didn't permit me to come back. Tuesday was the worst home loss of the coachs two-year tenure and equaled the largest margin of defeat for the Hoosiers this season (they also lost by 22 to Kansas, 84-62). ), Woodson said that he drove over to Bob Knight's house and sat down for a visit. "Well, everybody committed except the five best players. While the crowd roared to life after his name was introduced, Woodson remained focused in the huddle with his players. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File), Former Indiana basketball head coach Bobby Knight, center, makes his first appearance at Indiana University since his dismissal in September of 2000. "That's kind of how we got Davis. And every time you change a school its a difficult transition. Whether lingering in the shadows of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the past four decades, or front and center for 17,000 fans to cheer,the initial questions surrounding Woodson's abrupt jump to college basketball are becoming clearer by the day. You've got an old Branch McCracken book. Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) shoots during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, in Bloomington, Ind. DOYEL: You've got four books over your shoulder (in his office). Quick brag . "It wasn't a knock against the young kid, but I showed film of what he couldn't do. "To answer your question, I'm looking to push this team and put a competitive team on the floor that's going to make our fan base so happy. That's the only reason why I'm here. "People don't give that enough credit. Dylan Sinn is a College Sportswriter, covering mainly Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame, as well local colleges in northeast Indiana and Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball. And when Chester Woodson passed away in 1971, a 13-year-old Michael Dean Woodson followed suit he put his head down and got work. ), Woodson also wondered why there was no statue of his coach, Bob Knight, who won three titles in the building. (The Hawkeyes) had their way, doing everything they wanted to do. And I honestly thought I could help him make the next move to the big leagues. Among the All-Stars hes mentored are Ray Allen (Milwaukee Bucks), Kenny Anderson (Atlanta Hawks), Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons), Sam Cassell (Milwaukee Bucks), Derrick Coleman (Philadelphia 76ers), Baron Davis (New York Knicks), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Richard Hamilton (Detroit Pistons), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), Allen Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers), Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers), Shawn Kemp (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jason Kidd (New York Knicks), Kenyon Martin (New York Knicks), Dikembe Mutombo (Philadelphia 76ers), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), Paul Pierce (Los Angeles Clippers), Julius Randle (New York Knicks), Glenn Robinson (Milwaukee Bucks), Derrick Rose (New York Knicks), Amare Stoudemire (New York Knicks),Antoine Walker (Atlanta Hawks), Ben Wallace (Detroit Pistons) and Rasheed Wallace (Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks). ', "That's kind of how my career (got started). "So I've gone through the struggles, too, just like a lot of Indiana University basketball fans. No, Fitzsimmons said. Iowa forward Kris Murray (24) makes contact with Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23), who was bringing the ball up court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Bloomington, Ind. But there was also All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis throwing down dunks, providing optimism that the program is starting an upward trend. I just kind of walked away from it.. WOODSON:"I'm in the apartment business. The release from Indiana follows: BLOOMINGTON, Ind. Year 1 in your coaching tenure is not supposed to be your best one, but what do you expect to see, based on your roster and your own goals? "And you've got to get players to perform at a high level. They're going to be welcome because they deserve that. Woodson responded immediately, scoring 27 points in an upset win against Kentucky the weekend after Knight's punishments were announced. - Indiana suffered a 90-68 blowout loss on its home court on Tuesday night against Iowa. BOZICH: In addition to Trayce, you were also able to recruit Xavier Johnson (from Pittsburgh), Miller Kopp (from Northwestern) and Tamar Bates (a top-50 high school recruit). "To me, really there is no in between. Somebodys got to coach the team.. "Hoosier Nation has always supported Indiana basketball. He needed to spend all that time on basketball, because look at what basketball has brought to him. Woodson said that after everyone listened to his silky smooth voice during all his press conferences that he got all sorts of requests from people asking him to record voicemail message for them, or recording jingles for their Tik-Tok videos ''but I didn't know what that was,'' Woodson said. I've been able to do that over the years in the NBA. Above is the full Q&A. And when you say you brought your money back to Bloomington, do you own property or restaurants? Mike Woodson - Head Coach - Staff Directory - Indiana University Athletics Indiana University Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson named former Hoosier All-American and Indianapolis native Mike Woodson as the 30th . I had nine sisters and there were three boys. BLOOMINGTON, Ind. But I'm not looking at anything else differently.". He averaged 21.0 points during his junior season and helped lead Indiana to an NIT Championship. He was working himself to death, with no time for eloquence. Tweet. Finally, sitting in the press room after the game, Woodson let himself crack a smile. Indiana shot 43%. Indiana coach Mike Woodson gestures during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Iowa, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Bloomington, Ind. I had a chance to retool and rethink what I really wanted to do the rest of my coaching career. Everyones upset. "That," IU coach Mike Woodson said postgame, mincing zero words, "was a bullshit performance We've just lost our winning ways. 12-seed Wyoming in the NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers' first March Madness win in six years. He had already endeared himself with the fanbase during his four-year IU playing career in the 1980's, and his return back to where it all started only strengthened that implicit trust and loyalty. Woody, why dont you come out and be my assistant in the summer league? Woodson recalls Fitzsimmons asking. They set something that you all strive to be, man, as a player, as a student athlete. Whether it was leading the Hoosiers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016, or learning the recruiting ropesso seamlessly thathis first freshmen class includes a pair of five-star signees, Woodson hasn't backed down from the transition to college. I've had my battles physically over the years, from the back surgery I had many years ago. BLOOMINGTON, Ind. "But it didn't work out that way and I wish them nothing but the best as they move forward and move on with their careers. Because Coach Knight took a chance on me as a player. WOODSON: "The timing was always kind of off or against me, even when Tom Crean received the job (in 2008). Mike Woodson is one of the best players to ever put on an Indiana uniform, and now he's coming home to Bloomington to coach the Hoosiers. He taught me how to be a man on and off the floor.. Slideshow continues on the next slide Thirty to 40 of Woodsons friends and family attended Tuesdays game, including longtime writer Bob Hammel, whom Woodson exchanged pleasantries with in the press room, bringing back memories from the programs past. Thats all I needed to hear, Woodson said. And you've got two books by my mentor (Bloomington businessman) Bill Cook, who's no longer with us that owned Cook Incorporated. "I took all my NBA money and I brought it back to Bloomington. Im the coach, I gotta get them ready to play. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. WOODSON:"I've never felt that I was 63. Now back at his alma mater for the past year, Woodson has seeminglyembraced all the challenges. Emailed daily. "I would try to find ways to brag about us, because it's a great institution from an academic standpoint and the program, like you said, it was sitting at the top. I think when you're recruiting players you've got to put them in the best positions to be successful. I didn't want that. A look back at No. I feel good about my staff that I've assembled. But a lot of these guys are local, a lot of guys live up in Indy, they're close. But hed need another coach to help him learn how to navigate life as a college student. Alexis also played one season at IU. She was a natural choice for the job. "When I got the call from Scott (Dolson, the IU athletic director) about the possibility of interviewing, I told him the same thing: 'Either you come see me or I come see you.'. We left our game in West Lafayette, Woodson said. See also: Three keys, highlights, final stats. That's just the nature of coaching and the nature of sports.". That doesnt leave a whole lot of time to go home and do your homework. I've got to make this a family atmosphere. There was IU's 66-58 win over No. He (Knight) taught me how to play the game of basketball from a fundamental standpoint, Woodson said. "He finally said, 'Well, damn coach, we've been sitting here watching tape and you haven't put anything on there that I've done well.'. Now thanks to the court. around a lot of big shoes to fill and I brought it back Bloomington. Back now, and that means a great deal to me, really is. Lose any player over half my life in the NBA, I 've never recruited at the level... 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