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5 potential replacements for Tom Crean at Indiana

By Rob Wolkenbrod

Mar 4, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Crean during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Indiana won 96-92. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Crean during the second half against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena. Indiana won 96-92. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 27, 2017; Richmond, VA, USA; Dayton Flyers head coach Archie Miller reacts from the bench against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the second half at Stuart C. Siegel Center. The Rams won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2017; Richmond, VA, USA; Dayton Flyers head coach Archie Miller reacts from the bench against the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the second half at Stuart C. Siegel Center. The Rams won 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Archie Miller

Archie Miller’s stock has been on the rise for the past few years, and it’s not due to his brother, Sean, turning Arizona into a national powerhouse. He’s led Dayton to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, the first of which brought the school onto the national scene by shocking everyone and making it to the 2014 Elite Eight.

Since then, Miller has remained at Dayton, turning down other opportunities like other coaches at mid-majors have been doing in recent years. However, most, if not all of them eventually make the jump to a bigger school. Shaka Smart’s consistent success at VCU, only to wait a few years until after he broke onto the scene to join Texas, is the best recent example of this.

If Dayton can make another big run in the NCAA Tournament, expect Indiana to give him a call to replace Tom Crean. Even if he goes down early, however, he should be considered one of the hottest coaching candidates in the country.

A school like Washington could contend for Miller’s services and eye his Pac-12 acumen from being an assistant at Arizona and Arizona State, which could be a preference for him, pending he decides to leave. There wouldn’t be that with Indiana as much, but he can still scout the state of Ohio after coaching there for the past six years. It’s right in the heart of Big Ten country.

Miller should be considered one of the leading candidates for this top coaching job. If not, he’ll receive an opportunity elsewhere.