Indiana athletic director Fred Glass and new head coach Tom Allen led a press conference on Thursday evening in which Allen, the defensive coordinator, was announced as the new, permanent head coach of the program.
Glass began the press conference by explaining that he and former head coach Kevin Wilson had a continuation, and culmination, of a discussion over a handful of weeks that led to the resignation of Wilson.
Fred Glass said he has accepted the resignation of Kevin Wilson because of philosophical differences as to the leadership of program.
— Terry Hutchens (@IndySportsHutch) December 1, 2016
Fred Glass says there are no NCAA compliance issues. #iufb
— Sam Beishuizen (@Sam_Beishuizen) December 1, 2016
After receiving, and accepting Wilson’s resignation, Glass turned his search for a new head coach to Allen, who accepted the position Thursday afternoon.
Fred Glass called Tom Allen "demanding, but not demeaning."
— #IUFB2NASHVILLE (@crimsonquarry) December 1, 2016
Glass: "As disappointing and challenging as sad as the separation is, I'm elated and thrilled and optimistic of future under coach Allen."
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Glass: "Tom not only is a great scheme person and so forth. But he is a great leader of men." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 1, 2016
Allen took a moment to thank many who had helped him get to the spot he has at, from his parents to his family to his former players at South Florida, coaches at Wabash who hired him out of college and Kevin Wilson, who hired him from South Florida.
Allen: "My faith and my family are the two most important things to me." Allen thanking his wife for sticking with him through coaching life
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Tom Allen: "The IU administration has given me an amazing opportunity." Choking up talking about his parents. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 1, 2016
Tom Allen say his heart breaks for Kevin Wilson. "Never thought this would happen." Said, "I wish him nothing but the best.''
— Terry Hutchens (@IndySportsHutch) December 1, 2016
Allen’s primary focus, as stated, was the Hoosiers’ upcoming bowl game.
Tom Allen: "Our immediate goal is to prepare for our bowl game. We'll keep our staff intact."
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Allen: "We'll attack it with energy and passion, the only way I know how."
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Tom Allen said he's spoken to all of IU's coaches already. He wants to keep them together. #iufb
— Sam Beishuizen (@Sam_Beishuizen) December 1, 2016
Allen also offered a pitch to the recruits watching and listening while also establishing his principles for his team and program moving forward.
Tom Allen wants to protect the football, run the football, score in the red zone offensively. Defensively, nothing changes. #iufb
— Sam Beishuizen (@Sam_Beishuizen) December 1, 2016
Allen: "It's time to break through."
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Tom Allen: "I'm very blessed to be the head coach of THE Indiana University Football program." #iufb
— Sam Beishuizen (@Sam_Beishuizen) December 1, 2016
Allen’s deal will be a six-year deal, though terms aren’t finalized.
Tom Allen's contract will be for six years. #iufb
— Stu Jackson (@Stuart_Jackson1) December 1, 2016
After Allen finished, both took questions, starting with what led to Wilson’s departure.
Fred Glass said there was a realization today that he and Kevin Wilson were not on the same page. They talked. They split. #iufb
— Sam Beishuizen (@Sam_Beishuizen) December 1, 2016
Fred Glass says there's no "smoking gun" or single event that led to Wilson's departure.
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Glass says Indiana has no allegations of medical issues they're aware of from players.
— #IUFB2NASHVILLE (@crimsonquarry) December 1, 2016
Glass was asked about the philosophical differences and whether they existed when Wilson was given an extension in January of this year.
Glass says he felt like he had originally worked through philosophical differences when he agreed to extension with Wilson.
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
There was a lack of confidence that Glass and Wilson could get on the same page. #iufb
— Ken Bikoff (@kbikoff) December 1, 2016
Glass was asked about the reports that the program had interviewed past players about injury history.
Glass: "I think it's fair to acknowledge as a result of more recent concerns, we had some outside people help us look at where we are."
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Glass: "We had some outside people take a hard look at where we are." #iufb
— Stu Jackson (@Stuart_Jackson1) December 1, 2016
Indiana said external agency found no issues with IU's medical programs or process. Called them "robust"
— #IUFB2NASHVILLE (@crimsonquarry) December 1, 2016
Glass was asked for specifics on why Wilson was fired and more clarity on the philosophical differences, as well as how much IU owes Wilson going forward.
IU will pay Kevin Wilson one year's base salary -- $542,000 -- over the course of the next year. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 1, 2016
Glass on relationship with Wilson: "As things tend to happen sometimes, this thing ran its course."
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerHT) December 1, 2016
Again, Glass was pushed to describe the philosophical differences that led to the firing as well as more about the review of the program that was done.
Fred Glass again refusing to go into detail about "philosophical differences." He's leaving it there. #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 1, 2016
Glass said it was more about Wilson's leadership role than anything from a football standpoint. Said he wouldn't get into specifics.
— Terry Hutchens (@IndySportsHutch) December 1, 2016
Fred Glass says the review of Kevin Wilson was internal. So current players had a major impact in this. #iufb
— Sam Beishuizen (@Sam_Beishuizen) December 1, 2016
Fred Glass: "Medical care was not compromised in the program at all." #iufb
— Matt Glenesk (@MattGlenesk) December 1, 2016
Asked to give more details on the review, Glass said an outside firm did the review and the conclusion that there were no issues was concluded.
Fred Glass says a law firm conducted a review of the Indiana football program after some issues arose again in November.
— #IUFB2NASHVILLE (@crimsonquarry) December 1, 2016
Glass: "What might be okay at other places, or in another industry, might not be okay here." #iufb
— Teddy Bailey (@TheTeddyBailey) December 1, 2016
Glass said it wasn't first time Wilson and he had conversation about these "philosophical differences"
— #IUFB2NASHVILLE (@crimsonquarry) December 1, 2016
Glass says he and Wilson had a "divergent view on issues that had to do with leadership."
— #IUFB2NASHVILLE (@crimsonquarry) December 1, 2016
When asked about the timing and timeline of Wilson’s firing, Glass answered that the discussion with Wilson had been ongoing on the season and culminated on Thursday.
Glass: "I woke up this morning knowing what I was going to say to Kevin at 8:30. I didn't know what Tom Allen would say at 10." #iufb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) December 1, 2016
Glass again spoke highly of Allen and his new role.
Glass said he thinks Allen could maybe be "the secret sauce" to get IU over the top. Said the fact he is already at IU is a bonus.
— Terry Hutchens (@IndySportsHutch) December 1, 2016