Indiana football: Worst head coach hires in program history

Oct 28, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen reacts on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Indiana 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports /

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 28: A general view of the Indiana Hoosiers logo on the sideline before the game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium on October 28, 2023 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Not only did Phil Dickens struggle to win games after Indiana hired him away from Wyoming, but he got the program in hot water immediately. Reports came out of 17 recruiting violations during his first three months in Bloomington. Indiana was placed on a one-year probation and Dickens was not allowed to coach in 1957.

Bob Hicks patrolled the sideline that season and only went 1-8. Dickens managed to go 5-3-1 in his first year, but in the years to follow it became clear that if he couldn’t cheat in recruiting, he couldn’t win.

Indiana went 4-4-1 in 1959, then 1-8 in 1960. Dickens coached for four more years after his 1-8 1960 campaign but never had another winning season. He finished his tenure at Indiana with a record of 20-41-2.

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