Bill Lynch - Indiana University

Indiana University

Following his 2004 campaign at DePauw, Lynch resigned his duties as head coach to join long-time friend Terry Hoeppner, who had been hired as head coach at Indiana. There Lynch assumed the positions of assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and tight ends coach. Under Lynch in 2006, the Hoosiers offense scored their most points since 2001 and quarterback Kellen Lewis enjoyed one of the best freshman seasons in school history.

In the spring of 2007, when Hoeppner took a leave of absence to attend to his health, Lynch took over spring practices and the daily work of head coach indefinitely. As Hoeppner 's illness became worse, Lynch was named interim head coach for the 2007 season. Four days after this announcement, on June 19, Hoeppner died from complications of brain cancer.

In his first season as head coach, Lynch led the 2007 Hoosiers to a 7–6 record, the best for any Hoosier head coach in his first year since 1905 and the best record for an Indiana football team since 1993. The Hoosiers also earned their first bowl birth since 1993 with an invitation to the Insight Bowl to play Oklahoma State. After much speculation, Lynch signed a contract extension to coach the Hoosiers through 2012.

The 2008 Indiana team was hampered by a number of injuries. Against Wisconsin, the Hoosiers were forced to play three quarterbacks and four centers. 13 starters in total were injured during the year. Still, Lynch was able to pull in the one the strongest recruiting classes in recent history.

2009 showed marked improvement on the field, although the record ledger failed to show it as the team took 4th quarter leads into three Big Ten road games before falling short.

During Lynch's tenure, the players established a Player's Leadership Council, which elect weekly game captains and select the community service organizations the team volunteers with. The Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington and Riley Children's Hospital of Indianapolis are two favorite causes of the team.

Lynch has been noted for his strong recruiting, including identifying and developing high character young men who want to be part of a family atmosphere.

On November 28, 2010, it was announced that Lynch would not return for the 2011 season.