Bill Lynch will be returning as the coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, Athletic Director Rick Greenspan announced today. After leading IU to a 7-5 regular season record and a likely bowl appearance for the first time in over 15 years, Lynch was rewarded with a contract extension that would keep him with the university through July 1, 2012. The terms of the contract have not yet been disclosed.
Greenspan told IUHoosiers.com that he and university president Michael McRobbie consulted widely about the school’s coaching options before coming to the conclusion that Lynch was the best option. "Our football team this year was more competitive and generated more enthusiasm and fan support than in any year since I have been at IU," McRobbie told IUHoosiers.com. "I am extremely proud of our players and of the job Bill Lynch has done under very difficult circumstances. He has earned the title of head coach and I am confident that he will have the full support of all Hoosier fans."
Lynch was named the head coach on June 15, 2007, following the death of Terry Hoeppner. Lynch is the 27th head coach in IU’s history. The seven wins this season were the most since 1993 and the second most for a first year coach in the school’s history. He had served as interim head coach for two games in 2006 and had been in charge of spring practices before his predecessor passed. This is the fourth head coaching position for Lynch, compiling an 88-72-3 record at IU, Butler, Ball State, and DePauw. This is his second stint in Bloomington after serving as quarterbacks coach in 1993-94.
Many of the players, including quarterback Kellen Lewis, seem pleased with the decision. “I think it was a great decision to keep Coach Lynch,” Lewis told IUHoosiers.com. “Not only did he post a winning record this season, but he kept this team together. It provides us with some stability and we can now move forward and prepare for our bowl game.”
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