Indiana Hoosiers head coach Mike Woodson is set to step down from his role at the program following the 2024-25 college basketball season. However, Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter believes this decision may reflect more on Indiana’s fanbase than on Woodson’s performance with the Hoosiers. Following Sunday’s surprising matchup, Indiana secured a 73-58 victory against the No. 13 ranked Purdue, demonstrating that Woodson still has potential as a coach under different circumstances.
Despite the win, Indiana remains a long shot for the 2025 NCAA Tournament. After the game, Painter addressed what Indiana should consider when searching for a new head coach. He highlighted the ongoing criticism from Hoosier fans on social media as a significant factor contributing to the program’s struggles.
“They had a lot of turnover obviously,” Painter said in a video shared on X by Indiana beat writer Jared Kelly. “You’ve got to look at some of the common denominators. Instead of criticizing, let’s support our coach and players. Purdue fans don’t jump on and off the bandwagon like that. A real fanbase supports their team through thick and thin.” He urged Hoosier fans to show consistent support, communicate realistically about the players, and avoid unrealistic comparisons.
Painter continued, “They build them up and then wonder what’s wrong. Fans play a role in this, but it’s unfair to judge the entire fanbase by the loudest voices on Twitter. Young players are impacted by this noise; we’re trying to play for you, but the negativity when we lose is demoralizing.” He emphasized the need for Indiana fans to be grounded and supportive to foster success for the next head coach.
Matt Painter with a very candid answer when asked about Mike Woodson’s impending departure, what IU should be looking for in a new head coach. #iubb pic.twitter.com/uOgnVGlv7g
— Jared Kelly (@Jared_Kelly7) February 23, 2025
Indiana is a blue-blood college basketball program with a rich tradition of success, which means that the head coach often faces substantial scrutiny when things don’t go as planned. While it’s common for coaches at various programs to deal with backlash from fans after losses, Woodson’s position at Indiana amplifies this issue considerably. Only time will reveal who will take over from Woodson, but Painter suggests that significant change will only occur if the Indiana fanbase rallies around the new head coach.
