Darian DeVries has only been leading the Indiana Hoosiers for about six weeks, but he’s already making swift and significant changes to the team’s roster and coaching staff.
One of his latest moves is bringing in Bradley assistant coach Mike Bargen, who spent the past ten years as the associate head coach with the Braves. The hire was confirmed by On3 Sports.
Before his time at Bradley, Bargen served as the head coach at Butler Community College in Kansas for eight seasons. During that span, he compiled a 164-93 record and consistently averaged over 20 wins per season. His 2014-15 squad was especially impressive, finishing 29-4 and earning a No. 4 national ranking in the NJCAA while setting several program records.
Bradley head coach Brian Wardle shared his support for Bargen’s move:
“We’re thrilled for Mike and his family as they step into the Big Ten. We’ve shared a lot of success both on the court and on the sidelines. With the level of success we’ve had at Bradley, it’s only natural that our coaches move on to bigger opportunities,” Wardle said. “Having him by my side for the past decade has been a blessing, especially in today’s coaching world. Part of our job is not just developing players but also helping coaches grow into their next roles.”
Bargen will join a revamped Indiana staff that already includes assistant Kenny Johnson, strength coach Ryan Horn, former Cincinnati assistant Drew Adams, and Nick Norton, who previously coached under DeVries.
Meanwhile, previous assistants from the Mike Woodson era have moved on — Yasir Rosemond has accepted a role at LSU, and Kenya Hunter is heading to Texas, both as assistant coaches.
In addition, Garrett Sturtz, who played for DeVries at Drake and was his Director of Basketball Operations at West Virginia, is expected to take on the same role at Indiana, although the move hasn’t been officially confirmed yet.
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