Darian DeVries Discusses Lone Year in West Virginia, Why He Had to Take Indiana Job

Darian DeVries left West Virginia after only one season, making him an enemy of WVU fans and those who care about the Mountaineers. And even though WVU has moved on and replaced DeVries with Ross Hodge, the now Indiana head coach will likely always be someone West Virginians want to forget.

It may not matter at this point, but DeVries did have some kind words to say about his brief time at WVU and what he experienced in West Virginia while appearing on The Jim Rome Show.

“We loved our time there. We had tremendous support. The people and the area treated us unbelievably well. The administration was fully behind it,” DeVries told Jim Rome.

"When it's Indiana, and you say it to yourself or anybody else. That brand and that opportunity, the resources… It was just something I couldn't pass up."@Coach_DeVries on leaving West Virginia after one season for #IUbb. pic.twitter.com/ibBohfZMV2

— Jim Rome (@jimrome) April 4, 2025

Indiana basketball was just a job he couldn’t pass up, says DeVries.

“Then it was just one of those things from a timing standpoint. When it’s Indiana and you say it to yourself or anybody else, that brand and that opportunity and the resources and things here that give you every chance to be successful, it was just something I couldn’t pass up. It felt like we could be incredibly successful here as we move forward and excited about this chance right now.”

This mostly reiterates what DeVries said at his introductory press conference at Indiana.

“My intention was to continue down that path (at WVU) and build on the progress that we made on this first year,” DeVries said. “However, the opportunity came along to possibly be the head coach at Indiana, a dream job for anyone, but especially someone who grew up in the Midwest and grew up watching the old Big 8 and Big Ten basketball. The chance to lead one of the biggest brands in college basketball was something I could not pass up.”

DeVries, a native of Iowa, spent all of his coaching career in the Midwest at Creighton (Nebraska) and Drake (Iowa) before moving to WVU last season. He had a very successful six-year tenure as the head coach at Drake before being hired by the Mountaineers.

“One year ago today I took the West Virginia job after I left Drake University because I felt like it was a great fit for myself and my family,” DeVries said. “It had an administration that I greatly respected, a fanbase that was very supportive and a community full of great people. All of that turned out to be true in the past year and we were welcomed with open arms. We met some terrific people and me and my family are beyond grateful for that.”

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

DeVries, 49, led the Mountaineers to a 19-13 (10-10 Big 12) record for the 2024-25 season, just missing out on a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Under DeVries, West Virginia pulled off marquee upset wins over Gonzaga, Kansas and Iowa State, who were all ranked in the top 10. WVU’s win at Kansas this season was the program’s first-ever victory in Allen Fieldhouse.

Mike Woodson stepped down as Indiana’s coach following the season after four years leading the Hoosiers. IU went 19-13 this season and is one of several teams that felt they got snubbed from the NCAA Tournament, like West Virginia.

DeVries did also express his disappointment about not receiving a bid to the NCAA Tournament with his WVU team.

Find more coverage of Darian DeVries at WV Sports Now.