Tom Allen to Call the Hoosier Defense in 2022

Image: Sammy Jacobs Hoosier Huddle

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

A few years ago Tom Allen decided to give up defensive play calling to focus on being a better head coach. On Sunday afternoon Allen announced his decision to retake the reins after a 2-10 season and the departure of Charlton Warren.

Allen also introduced Chad Wilt as the new Hoosiers defensive coordinator, but was adamant that he was calling the defense himself.

Chad Wilt “will be our defensive coordinator. But I will be calling the defense. It's something that we're going to be doing a little bit different. But he and I have talked that through. And he'll be organizing our staff and all the things that we do. Just the things I've learned the last few years will be able to help us to be able to function that way at a high level. And I'm excited about it. And I'm excited to be working with him as he leads our linebacker room and leads our entire defense. So he's going to do a tremendous job.” Allen said Sunday.

The Hoosier defense struggled all year to get takeaways and recapture its magic from 2020 before wilting down the stretch to injuries and the dregs of a 2-10 season. The Hoosiers finished 10th in the conference in total defense and last in scoring defense in 2021.

Allen said this was “something I've been thinking about for a little bit and just as these things transpire, just felt like it's what -- it was time. And I'm excited about it. There's just a certain, you know, product I want on the field for that side of the football. And the system hasn't changed.

But I just feel like that having the last three years to be able to be in the role as head coach only, I've been able to grow tremendously, and I feel really good.

So my goal was to be able to find a person that could be my right-hand man in the meetings because what I've found the biggest issue is when you're -- whether it's scheming during the week or you're working on things and things happen, you get pulled out of a meeting, to be able to continue to flow. And that's what I want to get with Chad.”

Wilt will lead the organizational side of IU’s defense and be Allen’s mouth piece on the sideline for defensive adjustments.

Allen captained the largest defensive turn around in 2016 when he took over a dreadful IU defense and had IU on the uptick in 2017 and 2018 before handing the reigns over to Kane Wommack in 2019.