While new Indiana head coach Darian DeVries has been trying to build his roster, he also has had to worry about filling out his coaching staff. Well, he can cross one position off the list as he has made his next hire.
DeVries has decided to bring back former Indiana assistant coach Kenny Johnson, a beloved assistant coach who was with Indiana for three seasons under Tom Crean and was a huge asset for the Hoosiers.
Source tells IndyStar former IU assistant Kenny Johnson will join Darian DeVries' first staff in Bloomington. Johnson is expected to be involved as soon as this weekend: https://t.co/QE0k6alDu8 #iubb
— Zach Osterman (@ZachOsterman) April 11, 2025
Kenny Johnson makes his grand return to the Indiana Hoosiers
Landing Johnson as one of his assistant coaches is huge for DeVries, as Johnson's history with the Hoosiers is fond and remembered well. While he was in Indiana, Johnson was integral in landing top-15 prospect Noah Vonleh, top-40 prospect Troy Williams, and top-70 prospect Standford Robinson. Johnson also helped to land one of Indiana's best all-time 3-pointer shooters Robert Johnson.
In 2014, Johnson was hired on as an assistant coach at Louisville under long-time head coach Rick Pitino. However, before the 2017-2018 season, Johnson was placed on administrative leave due to the Division I men's basketball corruption scandal and FBI Investigation that left Pitino with no job. Johnson was officially fired in 2017.
Johnson went to be the assistant head coach for LaSalle from 2018 to 2020 before moving to Rhode Island from 2022 to 2024. After spending one seat with Georgetown, Johnson is back home at Indiana where he coached at his first power conference school.
The long-time assistant coach will be able to bring a lot of experience to the position and has shown he knows how to help programs recruit players. With DeVries still trying to pull his roster together, Johnson might be coming at just the right time to finish up filling out the roster.