Last modified: Monday, March 17, 2008
IU to begin nationwide search for men's basketball coach
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie announced today that he has appointed a 10-member, blue-ribbon committee of faculty, alumni and Athletic Department representatives to begin a nationwide search for a new men's basketball coach.
The panel will be chaired by Harry Gonso, an Indianapolis attorney and former IU trustee who led the Hoosiers as quarterback of the 1968 Rose Bowl team. An Academic All American and All Big-Ten football player, Gonso earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from IU in 1970 and a law degree with honors from the IU School of Law-Bloomington in 1973.
"Harry Gonso is the ideal person to lead a search of this importance," McRobbie said. "Harry has a deep appreciation for both our academic mission and our athletic traditions. He is well aware of the high expectations our fans and alumni have for our men's basketball program. Harry shares my determination to find a coach who will lead our men's basketball program in a manner that reflects Indiana University's tradition and values."
The head coach's position became vacant on Feb. 22 when Kelvin Sampson resigned. Dan Dakich, an assistant coach and director of men's basketball operations, was named interim head coach and will continue to head the team until a permanent head coach is named.
"I am grateful to President McRobbie for placing this trust with me," Gonso said. "I think he has put together a very strong search committee, and I am confident we will carry out this task quickly and successfully."
Athletics Director Rick Greenspan said that he looked forward to working with the search committee named by McRobbie.
"The advice and counsel of this committee will be critical as we seek to make the best choice possible for Indiana University and our fans," Greenspan said. "I greatly appreciate the willingness of Harry and the other distinguished members of the search committee to give their time and energy to this important task."
Gonso, who leads the life sciences practice for the Indianapolis law firm of Ice Miller, served as Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' senior counsel and chief of staff in 2005 and 2006. He also served 18 years on the IU Board of Trustees, where he was chair of two presidential searches and vice president of the board from 1988 until his retirement in 1994.
Gonso indicated that the search committee and its members would not be publicly commenting on the progress of the search process until a decision is announced.
Also named to the committee were:
- Rick Greenspan, athletics director
- Ken Beckley, former president of the IU Alumni Association
- Grace Calhoun, associate athletics director for compliance and academic services and senior woman administrator
- Bruce Jaffee, professor of business economics and public policy and faculty representative on the Athletics Committee
- Wayne Radford, former IU basketball player and most valuable player of the 1978 Hoosiers
- Jennifer Sinclair, president and chairwoman of the IU Varsity Club National Board of Directors
- Bill Stephan, IU vice president for engagement
- James Wimbush, dean of the University Graduate School, professor of business administration and chair of the University Athletics Committee
- Jerry Yeagley, former IU head men's soccer coach and member of the U.S. Soccer Federation Hall of Fame
