Bryant Haines Brings His Own Identity to Indiana's Defense

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has become the highest paid coordinator in school history with a $1.1 million salary for 2024. With the high pay comes high expectations and Haines is ready to put his stamp on the IU defense.

Haines was a recent guest on IU’s show Under the Hood with Indiana Football with Rhett Lewis. On the show, which is recommended for all Hoosier fans to watch, Haines described what he wants he defense to look like.

“We're gonna be fast. We're gonna be physical. We're gonna be relentless. We're gonna be very accountable to one another. We're going to be committed to doing our job completing, our job description and then we're going to enjoy competition.” Haines told Lewis.

Haines is tasked with turning around a defense that ranked last in the Big Ten in total defense, 12th in pass defense and 13th in rush defense. While the numbers are ugly, the defense was not devoid of talent.

“I thought that there was some talent here. I think it needs to be developed. And I think there's things that we can add from a schematic standpoint that can highlight these guys.” Haines explained. “But there's guys with strengths some some solid attributes that were already here. We can put in better situations maybe and and they can shine a little bit brighter.”

Haines will be familiar with four of Indiana’s defensive transfers from James Madison including both starting linebackers. Haines and the rest of the staff are going to try and plug holes with productive players from the G5 rather than taking a flyer on a highly-ranked recruit who did not see the field at a previous school.

“It always starts for us with with productivity we're looking for guys that are on the field making plays. We don't care as much about that four-star kid at so and so school that has never stepped onto the field.” Haines said. “That's not as meaningful to the kid that maybe is coming from a G5 program or what have you, but the kid makes plays, so we wanted to find playmakers and we were able to bring in several guys that we feel do that at a high level.”

Haines and the new Hoosier defensive staff will look to put their stamp on the field starting with spring practice.