Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens built a championship team and is looking to build a dynasty in Boston, but that hasn’t stopped college basketball rumors from floating around.
Mike Woodson’s tenure with Indiana has been rough since 2021. The former New York Knicks head coach did lead the Hoosiers to two NCAA tournament appearances but to lackluster results. The former men’s college basketball powerhouse hasn’t made the Sweet Sixteen since 2016 and fans want a change.
That’s where Stevens entered the picture. There wasn’t any concrete reporting, but Hoosiers fans loved the idea of the Indiana native returning home and leading the program back to glory. The Celtics de facto general manager got in front of those rumors Friday when he told Jeff Goodman of The Field 68 that he isn’t leaving the NBA for the NCAA.
“I thoroughly appreciate being a Celtic and love the people I get to work with every day,” Stevens told Goodman.
If this surprises you, it really shouldn’t. Stevens hasn’t coached in college since 2013. The 48-year-old made a name for himself when he took Butler to two national title games, but there’s really no logical reason for him to leave Boston. The C’s long-term outlook is one of the best in the NBA thanks to Stevens, so it would be strange if he left to rebuild Indiana from scratch.
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The Hoosiers will need to find someone else to rebuild their men’s basketball program.
Featured image via Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images
