Indiana Football: Hoosiers, Allen finalize new additions to coaching staff

The Indiana football program made it official on Sunday with the announcement of the newest additions to the Hoosiers’ coaching staff.

After it had been reported throughout most of the past week, the Indiana football program made it official on Sunday as it announced that Tom Allen had finalized the rest of his coaching staff for the 2020 season.

With the additions of Kevin Wright (tight ends coach), Jason Jones (safeties coach), and Kasey Teegardin (special teams coordinator), the Hoosiers have filled all of the necessary spots on Tom Allen’s coaching staff.

The biggest name out of that trio is Kevin Wright, however. Wright was the head coach at high school powerhouse IMG Academy for the past five years after spending time at Carmel High School, Noblesville High School, Louisville Trinity, and Warren Central. In his 20 years as a head coach, Wright has led his teams to four state championships, two runner-ups, and eight top-10 national rankings. Overall, Wright has a career record of 229-65 (.779) and has coached 39 All-Americans and 150+ players who went on to have Division I careers.

Outside of his high school career, Wright served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky University from 2007-08. During the 2007 season, the Hilltoppers finished seventh in the country in rushing offense and 28th in scoring offense.

With his success in both Indiana and also Florida, it was a hire that will immediately strengthen the already strong recruiting ties to both states.

As for Jason Jones, the new safeties coach comes over from Florida Atlantic University where he served as the cornerbacks coach for the 2019 season. After a successful season in which his coaching helped the Owls lead the nation in takeaways (33) and also saw defensive back Meiko Dotson earn first-team all-conference honors and share the national lead with interceptions (9), the Hoosiers are hoping he does the same for a relatively inconsistent secondary in Bloomington.

Before his time at FAU, he oversaw the secondary at Oklahoma State from 2008-12, where he helped the Cowboys lead the nation in takeaways in 2011.

Jones was also on staff at Ole Miss as the co-defensive coordinator while Tom Allen was there, so the relationship is already strong between the two coaches.

For the final addition of the staff, Kasey Teegardin was promoted from the safeties coach to special teams coordinator, taking over for William Inge who follows now head coach Kalen DeBoer to Fresno State as he becomes their newest defensive coordinator.

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