Darian DeVries is a man on a mission, and he doesn’t seem fazed by the chaos surrounding Indiana basketball. With zero scholarship players remaining on his roster, the new head coach is engineering his rebuild from the top down. His latest move? Bringing in Ryan Horn and Nick Norton to his coaching staff—two hires that have already sent shockwaves through the Hoosier faithful.
Horn, a strength and conditioning guru with a reputation for transforming players into athletic freaks, isn’t just any hire. He was instrumental in turning Wake Forest into a physically dominant program, and now he’s expected to do the same in Bloomington. His methods are unconventional—sometimes controversial. Weighted vests during shooting drills? Ice baths at halftime? Sleep deprivation studies to simulate high-pressure situations? If there’s a way to gain an edge, Horn has probably thought about it. Some former players swear by him, crediting him with their professional careers. Others whisper about burnout and overexertion, calling his training regimen extreme. But DeVries doesn’t care. He needs results, and Horn’s track record suggests he can deliver.
Then there’s Nick Norton, the former point guard turned coaching prodigy. At first glance, his resume lacks the traditional accolades of a high-profile assistant. No NBA playing experience. No decade-long stint under a Hall of Fame coach. Instead, Norton made his mark with his basketball IQ, analytical mind, and deep connection to DeVries, who coached him at Drake. Some critics argue Norton is only getting the job due to nepotism—DeVries handpicking his former player rather than conducting a broad search. But others see Norton as a rising star in coaching circles, someone who understands the modern game better than the old-school tacticians Indiana has relied on for years.
With these hires, DeVries is sending a message: Indiana basketball is going to be different. He’s prioritizing toughness, data-driven strategy, and player development over name-brand appeal. But does this approach work at a place like Indiana? Fans have been clamoring for elite recruits, not just elite trainers and young assistants. The Big Ten is ruthless, and as of now, the Hoosiers don’t even have a starting five. While some view DeVries as a mad scientist constructing something revolutionary, others see a desperate man grasping at straws.
The biggest question remains: Will this experiment succeed, or is Indiana basketball teetering on the brink of irrelevance? DeVries has already won the offseason in terms of headlines. But without players, a culture shift, and proof of concept, the skeptics are sharpening their knives. Bloomington has seen grand rebuilds before—some triumphant, others disastrous.
One thing is certain: With Horn and Norton in place, Indiana basketball is no longer playing it safe. It’s a high-stakes gamble, and the chips are all in. Now, the world waits to see if DeVries has the winning hand—or if Indiana basketball is about to suffer its most humiliating fold yet.
