Differences lead to Wilson’s resignation
Associated Press
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — When Indiana athletic director Fred Glass woke up Thursday morning, he knew the Hoosiers’ football program would be turned upside- down.
By nightfall, Glass had collected Kevin Wilson’s resignation, Tom Allen’s agreement to succeed Wilson and was trying to swat away questions about whether the abrupt coaching change was related to pushing players to return from injuries too quickly.
It was one of the strangest days at one of the strangest moments in program history. Less than a week after becoming bowl- eligible for the second straight season, Wilson was out of a job because of what Glass described as “philosophical differences.”
“I thought the core of what we talked about boiled down to leadership and how you are a leader,” Glass said. “I think Kevin and I have some honest disagreements about how you go about that. I’m not saying I’m right and he’s wrong. I think we concluded, maturely and appropriately, it’s time to go our separate ways.”
During a hastily arranged evening news conference, Glass never explained in detail how their approaches differed.
He was, however, peppered with questions about whether his decision was linked to reports about medical complaints during Wilson’s tenure.
Each time, Glass downplayed the significance of the reports though he did acknowledge athletic department officials hired an Indianapolis law firm to look into claims by some former players. The results, Glass said, showed Wilson’s players were treated properly.
Wilson departs less than 10 months after agreeing to a sixyear contract extension worth $ 15.3 million. Glass said Indiana is only on the hook for next year’s base salary, $ 542,000.
He went 26- 47 in six seasons and was Indiana’s longest- tenured coach since Bill Mallory, the school’s career leader in wins, left after the 1996 season.
Allen’s promotion from associate head coach and defensive coordinator takes effect immediately, avoiding a coaching search as Indiana ( 6- 6, 4- 5 Big Ten) waits to find out which bowl game it will play in. He agreed to a six- year deal. Glass said the financial details still have to be worked out but promised the payout would put him at a competitive scale in the Big Ten.