Tom Crean and Cindy Simon Skjodt sat on stage together last October for the dedication of the newly renovated Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Both were excited about the future of IU basketball with the unveiling of the changes, and Crean said the state-of-the-art facilities funded by Skjodt’s generosity would help in future recruiting efforts.
Less than five months later, Crean is no longer the coach at IU.
“He’s a very good man, and I wish him the best,” Skjodt said. “It was sad, but I think it was time. There needed to be a change.”
Skjodt donated $40 million to help with the renovation but said she likes to stay out of those types of decisions because she doesn’t have the basketball knowledge or experience.
“When we donated the money, it’s about the University, not necessarily which coach we have or which players are here today or ever,” Skjodt said. “It’s to go on for a long time. There’s going to be change. That’s the way it is.”
Nevertheless, Skjodt said she was excited about the hiring of Archie Miller and said she felt IU Athletic Director Fred Glass chose the best candidate available.
“I’m always up for allowing a new coach to do what he needs to do,” Skjodt said. “He has a very good track record. I think he’ll be great for the students.”
Another top IU donor, Bart Kaufman, also said he liked the hire of Miller. Kaufman made a significant donation to IU that helped build a new baseball facility with his name on it in 2013. Prior to the hiring of Miller, Kaufman said he thought the coaching search was a huge opportunity for Glass.
“I think Fred Glass did as good as he could do,” Kaufman said. “He wasn’t going to get Brad Stevens, and he wasn’t going to get Billy Donovan. President McRobbie wasn’t going to spend $8 million for a basketball coach, in my opinion.”
Given Miller’s young age, Kaufman said he has an opportunity to be a great coach at IU for decades to come. Kaufman even said he hopes Miller will be able to join the ranks of all-time great IU coaches Branch McCracken, Bob Knight and Everett Dean.
“The next building to replace Simon Skojdt Assembly Hall might be called Miller Arena if he coaches 30 years and puts up three or four banners,” Kaufman said. “They’ll forget about Bob Knight, Branch McCracken and Everett Dean. He has that chance. Now, is that going to happen? I don’t know.”
Kaufman said he didn’t care that Miller earned praise for his performance in his introductory press conference and doesn’t like the phrase “winning the press conference.”
“I don’t give a pig about press conferences,” Kaufman said. “I want him to win in the Big Ten.”
One part of Miller’s first public appearance that Kaufman did say he liked was Miller talking about creating a strong nonconference schedule. As a season ticket holder, Kaufman said he’d like it if IU would play better opponents at home in the nonconference season.
“It will be interesting to see if Miller is going to dump playing Houston Baptist, which I clearly hope he does,” Kaufman said.
Overall, both Skjodt and Kaufman said they were very happy with the new direction of IU basketball.
“It’s a new day for Indiana basketball with a new coach,” Kaufman said.
