(Archie Miller fired by Indiana after four years. Photo: Missy Minear/IU Athletics)

 

Despite going 12-15 this year and not making the NCAA Tournament in his four years, it was not a given that Indiana was firing Archie Miller, but that is what the Hoosiers did today.

 

Miller and the Hoosiers lost the last six games of the 2020-2021 season. Add in the fact that Miller went 0-7 against Purdue, and the Indiana fanbase turned on Miller late in the season. The icing on the cake seemed like losing to Rutgers in the Big Ten Tournament. The Scarlet Knights swept all three meetings against Indiana this season. At the end of the BTT game, there were "Fire Archie" chants in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

In a release, Indiana athletic director said that private funding was secured to cover Miller's 10.3 million dollar buyout. Although it was not a lumpsum payment, in a pandemic with limited crowds, the buyout was seen as a factor in the keep or fire debate. The private funds erased that debate.

 

Miller came to Indiana after a successful run at Dayton but went 67-58 in Bloomington. In Big Ten play, he was 33-43 with no finish higher than sixth. That sixth-place finish came in Archie's first season.

 

Where will Indiana turn to next? The dream hires for the fanbase seem to be Brad Stevens, Chris Beard, and Nate Oats, but for one reason or another, those do not seem realistic at this point. Scott Drew might fall into that bucket as well. Without those big-ticket options, it will be fascinating to see where Dolson and the Hoosiers turn.