Indiana AD gives Kevin Wilson vote of confidence despite another losing season
Indiana’s loss to Rutgers last weekend dropped its record to 3-7 on the season with a tough challenge at No. 6 Ohio State on the horizon. Despite the team’s struggles, school athletic director Fred Glass said Friday that he is pleased with the direction of the program under head coach Kevin Wilson.
“To me, the answer is a resounding yes, notwithstanding the lack of wins this year,” Glass told the Indianapolis Star.
Nearing the end of his fourth season at the helm, Wilson boasts a 5-25 record in Big Ten play and is just 13-33 overall.
The Hoosiers have not won a game since starting quarterback Nate Sudfeld went down with a season-ending shoulder injury during the team’s Oct. 11 game loss to Iowa. Glass knows the team’s struggles at the quarterback position – third-string true freshman Zander Diamont has been starting – have had a dramatic impact on the team’s record.
“I get that we’d like to win more games,” Glass said. “But I also think you just can’t overstate the impact of Nate going down.”
The Hoosiers looked primed for a bowl appearance until Sudfeld went down in the second quarter of that Iowa game. Before the injury, he led the Hoosiers to a 3-2 record and threw for 1,151 yards and six touchdowns. One of those wins was an impressive road upset of then No. 16 Missouri.
Glass told the Star he is “bullish” about the talent on IU’s roster moving forward and that Wilson is committed to turning the program into a winner.
“(He has) that fire in his belly and he’s all in,” Glass said of Wilson. “I jus think it takes a little while. That’s why I gave Kevin a seven-year contract.”
Glass mentioned a number of “inherent challenges” associated with the program. He thinks Wilson is heading in the right direction toward overcoming those.
“Given the challenges inherent here, Kevin is going the right way,” Glass said. “It’s just a shame Nate went down.”
After Saturday’s game against the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers have the chance to salvage a win at home against Purdue on Nov. 29.
For more Indiana news, visit Peegs.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
