Tag: Tom Allen

Nov 25, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen reacts during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Indiana fires Tom Allen, owes coach $20.8M

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indiana fired head coach Tom Allen after seven seasons, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday morning.

The reported move comes one day after the Hoosiers dropped a 35-31 decision to Purdue. Indiana finished the season with a 3-9 overall record and 1-8 mark in the Big Ten.

Under Allen, Indiana was 3-24 in Big Ten games since the Hoosiers went to bowl games in 2019 and 2020.

Allen, 53, posted a 33-49 overall record and 18-43 mark in Big Ten play.

His high-water marks came after posting an 8-5 record in 2019 and a 6-2 mark during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Indiana rewarded Allen in March 2021 with a seven-year contract that increased his salary to $4.9 million annually and included a buyout of $20.8 million if the university elected to fire him prior to Dec. 1, 2023.

–Field Level Media

Offensive coordinator Walt Bell demonstrates the proper position during the first open practice of the 2022 season at the practice facility at Indiana University on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. Iufb Oc Walt Bell Showing Position

Indiana sacks offensive coordinator Walt Bell

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indiana, off to a 2-3 start, dismissed offensive coordinator Walt Bell on Sunday, effective immediately.

He is being replaced by Rod Carey, a former college head coach who has served as a quality control coach at Indiana since the start of the 2022 season.

“I felt we need a new direction on the offensive side of the ball,” head coach Tom Allen said in a university-released statement. “Rod brings a wealth of experience and success along with a familiarity with our personnel.

“I wish Walt and his family the best moving forward and thank him for his contributions to our program.”

Bell, 39, formerly was the head coach at UMass (2019-21), where he compiled a 2-23 record.

Indiana lost Saturday to Maryland 44-17. Three Hoosiers quarterbacks combined to throw for 205 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. In 78 plays, the offense gained 321 yards, good for 4.1 yards per play.

The Hoosiers’ two wins came against Indiana State (41-7) on Sept. 8 and Akron (29-27) in four overtimes on Sept. 23.

In their losses to Ohio State, Louisville and Maryland, they’ve been outscored 88 to 34.

Carey was 64-50 as head coach at Northern Illinois University (2012-18) and at Temple University (2019-21) with seven bowl appearances — all losses.

Carey, 52, was fired at Temple after three seasons and a 12-20 record.

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2021; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen yells to pump up. His team during warmups before the match against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana coach Tom Allen takes pay cut, OC fired

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indiana offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan is out and head coach Tom Allen is taking a pay cut after a disappointing season that saw the Hoosiers finish 2-10.

“I want to thank Nick for his work and commitment to our football program,” Allen said in a statement Sunday, a day after the Hoosiers were trampled by Purdue, 44-7, to finish 0-9 in Big Ten play.

“He is a good football coach and a man of tremendous character, but we are in the need of a reset on the offensive side of the ball. We will begin our search for Nick’s replacement immediately.”

Sheridan, 33, had been on the coaching staff since 2017 and took over as offensive coordinator in 2020.

Indiana scored one touchdown or fewer in six games on the season.

Allen, 51, also agreed to restructure his contract. It will still go through the 2027 season, but his salary will be decreased each year from 2022-25.

“We did not meet the standard that I expect from our football program, and that starts with me,” Allen said. “This season was not acceptable and we will work to address it.”

In five-plus seasons at Indiana, Allen has a 26-32 overall record, including an 0-3 mark in bowl games. The Hoosiers were 6-2 in the coronavirus-shortened season in 2020 and entered this season ranked No. 17.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen claps during the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana football coach Tom Allen earns big raise

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Indiana is rewarding football coach Tom Allen with a raise, bringing his annual average compensation to $4.9 million through the 2027 season.

A year also was added to Allen’s existing contract because the Hoosiers qualified for a postseason bowl in 2020, finished 6-2 and reached as high as No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

ESPN reported that Allen’s previous contract paid him $3.9 million annually, with the new money coming from outside marketing and promotions.

“Tom Allen has proven himself to be not only the right person for our student-athletes and our program, but one of the best football coaches in the country,” Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson said in a university statement issued Monday. “The enthusiasm and outlook for our program is at an all-time high, and the future of Indiana Football is in great hands. I look forward to Tom leading our program for many years to come.”

Allen, who turns 51 next week, was named the American Football Coaches Association’s National Coach of the Year as well as the Big Ten Coach of the Year after the 2020 season.

In four seasons with the Hoosiers, Allen’s record is 24-22, but Indiana leadership sees a program on the rise. In 2019, the Hoosiers were 8-5 and had their first winning Big Ten season in 26 years.

He led Indiana to the 2020 Gator Bowl and the 2021 Outback Bowl — both losses. It was the first time in program history, however, that Indiana has played in January bowl games in consecutive seasons.

The Hoosiers finished the 2020 season ranked No. 12 in the final AP poll for their highest season-ending ranking since 1967.

–Field Level Media

Nov 14, 2020; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Thomas Allen (44) is taken off the field after an injury during the third quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Coach Allen’s son carted off field in Indiana win

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The son of Indiana coach Tom Allen was carted off the field Saturday with a reported upper-body injury.

Thomas Allen, a junior linebacker, sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Hoosiers’ 24-0 win over Michigan State. Teammates surrounded him and then his father put his hand on his back, kissed him on the head and hugged him in a touching moment.

“He’s a tough kid, I love him so much,” the Hoosiers coach said after the game, per ESPN. “But it could be pretty serious. … I knew how he was responding, it was pretty serious. It’s hard to stand there and keep coaching.”

The No. 10 Hoosiers moved to 4-0 on the season and lead the Big Ten East. They are scheduled to face No. 3 Ohio State next Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

Entering Saturday’s game, the younger Allen had six tackles on the season. He missed much of last season after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury on Oct. 26, 2019, against Nebraska. He had 17 tackles in eight games.

–Field Level Media