Sports

Hoosiers fire O-line coach after latest poor game

Hoosiers fire O-line coach after latest poor game

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana football coach Tom Allen made a rare midseason coaching change Sunday when he fired offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Darren Hiller.

The move comes one day after the Hoosiers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) rushed for 19 yards and allowed seven sacks in a 31-10 loss to Michigan.

Hiller was in his sixth season with Indiana and had survived a staff shake-up following last season’s dismal 2-10 mark. Indiana opened this season with three straight come-from-behind wins but has now lost three in a row, largely because of an inconsistent offense and a leaky offensive line that has allowed a Big Ten-worst 19 sacks.

Former Indiana offensive lineman Rod Carey takes over both jobs for the rest of the season. He was hired in the offseason as a quality control coach after spending the previous nine seasons as a head coach, compiling a 64-50 record while earning seven bowl bids.

At Northern Illinois, Carey led the Huskies to four Mid-American Conference division titles, two league championships and the 2013 Orange Bowl. He played for Indiana’s winningest all-time coach, the late Bill Mallory, from 1990 to 1993.

“Rod is a tremendous football coach and leader of young men,” Allen said. “His record as a head coach and offensive line coach speaks for itself. Rod will make an immediate impact and integrate well with our offensive staff.”