The best coach available who wanted to come to Indiana University

Not the best way to describe somebody coming to coach your basketball team, but there it was in black and white:

It’s not a good sign when your new coach is described as if he were the last puppy left at the Humane Society. In the awe-uninspiring words delivered by former IU Alumni Association executive council member Keith Hedrick to the Journal-Gazette, Sampson, in athletic director Rick Greenspan’s mind, was “the best coach available who wanted to come to Indiana University.” You definitely want that quote on the cover of next year’s media guide.

Was hiring Kelvin Sampson the best Indiana could do? Did we not even ask all the sexy names out there: Calipari, Few, Beilin, Crean? Or worse—Did these guys turn us down? Turn a coaching job at friggin’ IU down? You just don’t do that…right?

My, how delusional Hoosier Nation must be. We actually believe our own hype that we’re one of the top five basketball schools in the country and that top-tier coaches would be knocking on our door, resumes in hand.

Apparently, we’re not. For starters, IU has one of the worst facilities on the planet. This will have to change. Assembly Hall needed to be demolished 10-years after it was built. It seemed old when I attended I.U. in the late 80’s. Secondly, the athletic department is financially strapped from years of mismanagement and buying out contracts of fired coaches. Third, we’ve sucked over the past 10 years except for that anomoly in 2002.

And fourth, some guy named Bobby Knight and all the stupidity that goes along with legacy. Exhibit number one:

"Greenspan obviously doesn't understand there's more to the tradition of IU basketball than winning basketball games," said Ted Kitchel, a forward on the 1981 national championship team. It's an absolute disgrace. I wouldn't hire that guy to coach my fifth-grade girls team. That guy is absolutely what we don't want at IU."

Who wants to coach in this guy’s ever-present shadow and deal with his rabid supporters?

Kelvin Sampson does.

What’s interesting about this hire is having to stop and think about it. It prevented an emotional reaction either way. For me anyway. Once the shock wore off I read and researched. I read articles written by haters (examples here, here, and here) and supporters (examples here, here, and here) alike. Jason Whitlock wrote a really good one that logically breaks down the hiring as opposed to somebody like Dick Vitale who just spews love and adoration about all things basketball unless it concerns IU not naming the floor at Asembly Hall after the General, Robert Montgomery Knight (just kiss him already, Dick. We all know you love the man.).

I also watched the press conference announcing Sampson as the new coach and listened to a post-conference audio interview of IU's Athletic Director, Rick Greenspan. So far, I like what I’ve read and heard from Sampson, and I’m comfortable with what’s going on with the NCAA violations.

The hiring of Kelvin Sampson has no sex. No sizzle. No wow factor. And maybe that’s what Hoosier Nation really needs right now. We’ve been bitching about results for three years. And throughout his career that’s exactly what Sampson has done—deliver results to the tune of nine straight 20-win seasons in a power conference with Juco transfers, castoffs, and kids of questionable character…and he did it at a football school. I’m salivating at the thought of what he can do with IU’s resources.

Welcome to Hoosier Nation, Coach. You’re one of us now—and I, for one, am glad.